Dunn: Confidence the only thing missing

Jonathan Forte: expected to return to training after Christmas.

BRAVERY is the key to Athletic’s success says manager David Dunn - who is about to take a sweeping brush to his squad.

Experienced midfield man Richie Wellens could make a start against Millwall tomorrow, for the first time since starting his second loan at the club.

The 35 year old said this week he hopes to stay for the rest of the season, to provide leadership on the field in the new-look side Dunn wants to create.

Some of the loan players who haven’t hit the mark regularly enough will not return when their loans end before the transfer window on January 2. Dunn will assign those resources elsewhere, with a commanding centre-back the main priority.

“Richie brings loads of experience and is a fan favourite as well, which will give the supporters a lift,” said Dunn ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Lions. A home win could lift Athletic out of the relegation zone.

“As Richie said this week, if we can just replicate what we are doing in training then we will have absolutely no problem whatsoever. Likewise we need the courage out on the pitch to replicate it. That’s the only thing missing.”

While it has been suggested that last season’s 15-goal top scorer Jonathan Forte will be akin to a new signing once he returns to full training after Christmas, Dunn sounded a note of caution over the well-travelled forward.

“The problem we’ll have is getting him up to fitness,” said Dunn. “Because he’s been out for so long and because of his knee, it will be a double-edged sword. We’ll have to come up with a programme that gets him as fit as we can without getting his knee swollen.”