Kelly’s eye on the prize

DANNY PHILLISKIRK . . . carrying a knock.

ATHLETIC are busy working on two fronts ahead of tonight — but don’t be fooled into thinking focus will drift away from the task at Shrewsbury.

The transfer deadline is reached at 6pm, only two hours before Athletic are in first-round action in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Greenhous Meadow.

Manager Darren Kelly, who is without Simonas Stankevicius (international duty), could give game-time to a handful of fringe players, with Danny Philliskirk among those nursing slight knocks.

And while he and the club have been working to get players out as well as bring in new men — a centre-back is among the positions targeted now that Gavin Gunning has left — Kelly says it would not be right to put anything less than 100 per cent into tonight’s tie.

“I am taking the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy very seriously,” said the manager, who praised Philliskirk’s efforts in continuing to battle through the pain after taking a heavy knock in the first half of the 1-1 draw at Bury.

“You look at the sacrifices supporters make to away games on a Tuesday night. It would be a massive insult if we went and didn’t take it seriously,” said Kelly. “They deserve a lot better and hopefully through the cup competitions and the league, we can bring that.”

The loss of Stankevicius to under-21 duty with Lithuania means Athletic once again lack a target man for both Shrewsbury and the Bradford game on Saturday. Loan moves could be made to boost Kelly’s squad options.

“We are working hard behind the scenes to get the right personnel in,” Athletic’s manager said.

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_