Needs must for Latics boss

IN LATICS' SIGHTS . . . Jack Byrne (left), pictured playing on loan at Blackburn Rovers, could be in John Sheridan's line-up at Blackpool tomorrow

PLAYERS are set to come and go as the transfer window approaches next week, with John Sheridan not ruling out any departures.

"If someone comes in and it frees up money to possibly go and get someone else, I wouldn't stand in anyone's way," said the Athletic manager, who is hoping to tie up a loan deal with Wigan midfielder Jack Byrne in time for the game at Blackpool tomorrow.

"It doesn't matter who is in the team, if that's the way I have to go about things - which is more or less what I have to do to get one or two.

"I wouldn't stand in any player's way."

Dublin-born Byrne, an attack-minded midfielder who started his career at Manchester City, has trained with Athletic this week and if the deal is completed on time will make his bow at Bloomfield Road as Athletic aim to get off the mark in Sky Bet League One.

As far as the 11pm deadline on Thursday goes, it could be that Sheridan opts to bring in another goalkeeper as well as Johny Placide.

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A deal for the Haiti international has not yet been completed, despite an agent posting a 'signing' picture on social media this week.

"He is here and he's a good lad and a good goalkeeper who is training well and hard," Sheridan said of Placide.

"We will see what the outcome is. It has to be sorted out before next Thursday and it will be.

"Ideally, I would like a number one. Ben has come in and he has done well. Johny is coming in, but are those two a 'number one'? I don't know.

"There is a goalkeeper I could go and get, but again it's down to circumstances."

Athletic are waiting on the fitness of Paul Green, Ryan Flynn, Craig Davies and Tope Obadeyi ahead of tomorrow's game, which skipper Peter Clarke believes will be another tough test against his former club.

"I watched them in pre-season, as they were on my doorstep and my little lad wanted to see a game.

"They will be open and exapansive and play through the thirds. They will want to get Jimmy Ryan on the ball in the middle and Bright Osayi-Samuel is certainly someone we will have to keep an eye on."

Athletic (possible, 4-1-4-1): Ben Wilson; Brian Wilson, Clarke, Gerrard, Hunt; Gardner; McLaughlin, Banks, Byrne, Kyeremeh; Amadi-Holloway.

Subs (from): Dummigan, Edmundson, Mantack, Stott, Fane, Flynn, Green, Davies, Obadeyi, Osei, Fawns, Duffus.

Tomorrow's fixtures in Sky Bet League One -

AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster, Blackburn v MK Dons, Blackpool v ATHLETIC, Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood, Gillingham v Southend, Northampton v Peterborough, Oxford v Shrewsbury, Plymouth v Stevenage, Rochdale v Bury, Rotherham v Charlton, Walsall v Bradford, Wigan v Portsmouth.

n JOHN Sheridan will pursue a case against Notts County for unfair dismissal at an arbitration court in Nottingham next month.

Sheridan is being backed by the League Managers' Association and is in line to attend a hearing that will also see Notts County owner Alan Hardy give evidence.

Athletic's manager was sacked for gross misconduct by Hardy last January, after verbal abuse of match officials last December which he has since apologised for.

Hardy - no relation to Athletic's former chief executive - stated that Sheridan's dismissal had nothing to do with Notts County's poor run of form at the time.