Athletic facing striker crisis

PAWEL ABBOTT: Needs a hernia operation.

ATHLETIC are resigned to losing top scorer Pawel Abbott, who needs a hernia operation.

Manager Dave Penney admitted it is a case of Abbott trying to soldier on until some of his injured team-mates return.

But with Deane Smalley and Lewis Alessandra out long term, and Nick Blackman also injured, Athletic are confronted by a striker crisis.

Penney said: “Pawel’s injury is a worry and it is a case of how long he can play on for.

“It is a hernia and he needs an operation which means he will miss two or three weeks. Hopefully I can get one or two others back before he has to come out of the team.”

Athletic are short of firepower as Smalley and Alessandra are both set to have surgery.

Smalley requires an operation on a damaged disc in his back while Alessandra returned early from a loan spell at Chester City with damaged ankle ligaments and this week will undergo surgery.

There is every chance that Smalley and Alessandra will not play again in 2009, two massive blows for Athletic.

On-loan Blackman also has a suspected stress fracture of his foot while Chris O’Grady is out of the equation as he is on a long-term loan at Rochdale.

It paints a dismal picture with Keigan Parker and youngster Ryan Brooke the only two senior strikers who are completely free from injury.

To add to Athletic’s woes, Rob Purdie and Joe Jacobson, both of whom have yet to make their competitive debuts for the Boundary Park club, have suffered setbacks after breaking down in training.

Purdie fears he may not play until 2010 as he looks set to be given a drip containing a fluid aimed at strengthening his pelvic muscles.

“The frustrating thing is that I broke down when I was so close to returning,” he said.

Purdie was injured in the first week of June when the players were ordered back for an extra week’s work. He had returned to full training when he broke down again.

Danny Whitaker has been shortlisted for the goal-of-the-round award for his goal against Accrington Stanley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Video clips of the 10 best strikes from each round are posted on the JPT website for fans to vote.

To enter log on to www.johnstonepainttrophy.com. The closing date for voting is Monday, September 28. One lucky entrant will win a Sony Playstation 3 console with the latest Fifa game.