Big freeze such a pain for Dean

DRIVING FORCE . . . Dean Furman (right) is desperate to return to action.

NOT playing football doesn't sit well with Athletic midfield maestro Dean Furman.

The 22-year-old has arguably been the star performer in Paul Dickov's new-look team this term.

Freed from his defensive straitjacket of last season, the Cape Town-born player has weighed in with four sweetly-struck goals and his high-energy approach has regularly seen him dominate matches from the middle of the field.

Furman's excellent form has helped Athletic to produce a run of only one defeat in the last 10 npower League One matches, propelling the club to sixth place in the division.

So the big freeze, which has affected training sessions and put paid to last week's match at Walsall, has arrived at the wrong time so far as the former Chelsea trainee is concerned.

"It is very frustrating because at the moment, we just want to play football," Furman said.

"With the way we are playing we certainly don't want games being cancelled, but then there is not a lot we can do about it.

"We are still working as hard as ever with the game against Swindon in mind on Saturday.

"Obviously it would be much better to train on grass, but more or less every club is facing the same situation at the moment.

"This season, we are going out feeling that we can beat any team we come up against. Game after game, we are enjoying our football.

"Hopefully we can carry on the run that we have been on. We are up in sixth at the moment and that is a good position to be in — though we feel that we should be even higher.

"It is a very young squad here — the average age is around 21 — and the more we can keep it going and build on it, the more confidence we will take."

One of the features of Athletic's season so far compared to last time is the lack of minor pulls and strains which can hamper options.

Furman has missed only one league match so far and that was through suspension, while his partner in the centre of midfield, Dale Stephens, has been an ever-present, as have striker Oumare Tounkara and goalkeeper Dean Brill.

And Furman puts that down to the impact of lively new head of sports science Paul Butler, plus the efforts of the club's medical staff.

"As much as I am reluctant to give him praise, he (Butler) has been brilliant, as has Marc Czuczman (physio) in that department," Furman said.

"The evidence is there for everyone to see that when compared to last season, the injuries situation has definitely calmed down a lot and we have a much more settled team.”

Furman also praised his manager Paul Dickov, whose straightforward approach he appreciates.

"He has been great," Furman added. "He has lifted the mood of the place after a difficult season last time.

"And along with Gerry (Taggart), he has given all of the boys extra confidence and belief.”

On Saturday's game against last year's play-off finalists Swindon at Boundary Park, Furman is under no illusions as to how tough it is likely to be.

"We will approach it like all the others," he said. "We know that they are a good side, achieving what they did last season.”