Latics boss wary after Rusnak letdown

Albert Rusnak: quick exit

FOR Latics manager Lee Johnson it’s once-bitten in the loan market, twice shy.

Albert Rusnak’s spell at Boundary Park came to an abrupt end last week when he reportedly refused to play in a reserves match. The stroppy youngster was sent back to Manchester City only three weeks into a loan set to run until next year.

The experience has tainted the loan market for Johnson: the manager has suggested it may be better to look at permanent out-of-contract options.

“It upset me a little bit,” Johnson said of Rusnak. “I didn’t like the way it ended. It has put me off loans a little bit.

“The other thing is, at the moment there are a few good players out of contract and looking for clubs.

I don’t rule out completely bringing in someone. But I wouldn’t do it just for numbers. They would have to be better than we already have.”

Athletic are likely to be without Cristian Montano for the Crawley trip — the winger needs to allow time for a wound to heal following surgery. Genseric Kusunga is rated as 50-50 to join the squad.

The team will hope to improve on last week’s draw with Crewe, Johnson said. “It wasn’t a bad point against Crewe, but we are disappointed we pressed them as individuals rather than as a team.

“We still showed character to come back from going a goal down, but the lads were disappointed — particularly the three or four individuals who didn’t really perform — and hopefully it will drive them on to better things at Crawley.”