Decision time looming large

Jay Fulton: on-loan midfielder returns to Swansea after this weekend.

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PLAYER posers arise following Athletic’s game at Coventry as Jay Fulton becomes the first of EIGHT registered players without a deal in the near future.

Manager David Dunn will lose the services of the Swansea midfield prospect after the trip to the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, when his 93-day deal ends.

Any hopes Fulton may carry of coming back in the New Year rest partly on the judgement of Dunn, who should have scope to make significant changes to his squad when the transfer window opens. Defensive duo Jonathan Burn and Eoghan O’Connell, both long-term absentees through injury, officially return to parent clubs Middlesbrough and Celtic respectively on January 1.

That may free some of the budget to bring in Dunn’s number one target, a central defensive leader.

Striker Michael Higdon goes back to Sheffield United after Athletic’s Boxing Day clash at Blackpool.

A scorer of five goals in a dozen appearances on loan from Bramall Lane, his spell at Oldham has had ups and downs and it remains to be seen whether Dunn will try to bring him back.

Right-back Cameron Dummigan is due back at Burnley after the home game against Colchester on January 2 and fellow youngster Giorgio Rasulo, of MK Dons, also returns to the Championship after that game.

Winger Mark Yeates has a short-term deal which runs out at the end of next month, striker Ricardo Fuller’s similar deal expires in the middle of January and full-back Richard Eckersley has already reached the end of his brief contract.

Dunn also faces a decision over the future of Rhys Murphy, who has found scoring form while out on a loan at Crawley.

Athletic have used more players (34) this season than any other club in League One.

Three of the current top four — Walsall (21), Gillingham (22) and Burton (23) — have used the least number of players so far.



ATHLETIC’S home game with Millwall, postponed due to pitch concerns, could be rearranged for early next month.

With both Athletic and Millwall free on January 9, a clash between the pair at SportsDirect.com Park may be arranged.