Dieng out to call the Toon

Timothee Dieng

NEW signing Timothee Dieng should not have too many fears about stepping out for the first time as a fully-fledged Athletic player tonight.

The 22-year-old Frenchman, who played in a holding midfield role while on trial last week in the Curzon Ashton win, has joined the club on a two-year deal with the option of a third 12 months built into it.

The transfer hasn’t cost Athletic a penny.

And given that Dieng made his full debut for Brest in Ligue 1 against a Paris St Germain side featuring David Beckham swinging in crosses for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the stellar names on show tonight at SportsDirect.com Park won’t faze the man from Grenoble.

“He is very smooth on the ball and can hit a diagonal pass with both feet,” said Athletic boss Lee Johnson of his versatile new 6ft 2in capture, who was the reserve-team captain with Brest in Ligue 2 last season before being released.

“He defends well and can play right-back, centre-half or that ‘number six’ position.

“We need that interchangeable diversity at a club like ours.”

Dieng, whose brothers Sammy and Nathanael play for Grenoble and St Etienne respectively, could be joined by at least one more new arrival in time for the visit of Newcastle tonight.

Johnson is pleased with the business already done in reshaping his squad, with scope within the budget for further additions.

“I’m quietly confident we have recruited well in the summer, for different reasons,” said the manager. “Some for value, some for potential, some for the dynamic of the team we may need and haven’t had. We have got experience in as well.

“We have still a little bit of room in the budget, which is good and can only stand us in good stead for later on.”

Meanwhile, Johnson hopes that Athletic’s supporters can carry on from where they left off late last season.

A healthy crowd is expected at SportsDirect.com Park for tonight’s game against the Premier League club and a new ‘Athleticos’ singing section was already up and running and making itself heard last week at Curzon Ashton.
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