Kelly to rely on Rhys

RARING TO GO: Rhys Turner will be desperate to impress if given his chance at Colchester tonight.

OPPORTUNITY knocks for Jake Cassidy’s replacement at Colchester tonight, with Rhys Turner primed to leap into action once again.

Target man Cassidy is expected to be out for up to 12 weeks, pending a scan on a minor ankle fracture from the Fleetwood game. Athletic may bring in a loan player to fill the gap, but Turner replaced Cassidy to good effect on Saturday, setting up Danny Philliskirk’s decisive goal with a flickn and winning more than his fair share of aerial duels, despite his relatively small frame.

As he targets the top of the league tonight — a 3-0 victory could send Athletic top if other results are kind — manager Darren Kelly talked of Turner’s ability to replicate the imposing Cassidy’s style.

“I like Rhys a lot,” said Kelly “He’s a deceiving sort of player in that he stands at 5ft 10in but has got very good timing in the air.

“The goal he created was one we concentrated on in training and wanted Cassidy to do. Jake went off and it was Rhys who did it — and it worked.”

In the absence of Cassidy, Kelly may have to call on those already within the squad: “I have no doubt about the quality we have,” Kelly said. “The likes of Turner, Rhys Murphy, Dominic Poleon and Jonathan Forte are more than capable of doing a good job. It is up to them to take their opportunity.”

Turner will be ready, having been taken off against Fleetwood with slight cramp, while Forte could also make the starting XI after two substitute appearances from three games played to date.

Last season’s top scorer is not far off full match fitness after a disrupted pre-season: “We want him in the side and it is something we are monitoring,” said Kelly.

“We are putting a big demand on players with a lot of games in a short time frame and it’s important we have a full squad to take that on.”

While looking for victory tonight, Kelly is not getting ahead of himself: “We are confident we can go down to Colchester and get three points,” he added. “It would be fantastic to be top of the division.”

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_