Sheridan’s ‘play smart’ call

Jean-Yves Mvoto: released by Leyton Orient after 10 games. Potential Athletic target?.

ATHLETIC manager John Sheridan says his side needs to play smarter against Bury as he attempts to add men to the squad.

Sheridan’s priority is to pin down a new centre-back, and we understand a former Championship defender from a southern club has been targeted as first choice. If that move can’t be finalised, there may be a return to the club for Jean-Yves Mvoto.

Released by Leyton Orient yesterday after a short-term deal ended, centre-back Mvoto (27) would be receptive to a move north and has been offered to Athletic.

Powerful in the air, Mvoto made 123 appearances for Athletic before leaving for Barnsley in the summer of 2013.

As of this morning Sheridan was set to go into the crucial Bury derby with the same players he had for Bradford, minus suspended Connor Brown and released striker Ricardo Fuller.

Right-back Cameron Dummigan, who picked up a calf injury at Valley Parade, is a doubt.

To end the unwanted club record run of 12 league matches without a win, Sheridan wants his team to work as hard as they did at Bradford - before and after dropping to 10 men.

Sheridan has impressed on his men the need to play the ball more quickly if there’s a chance to attack.

The team has scored only 26 times in 25 matches in the league so far. Only Bradford (25 goals) have scored fewer.

“What I had at Bradford was lots of effort and I was pleased with the way they went about it,” said the manager. “But it is about having nous and picking that right pass — when to play forwards and when to play sideways — that I have got to get into us.

“I have seen some good signs and the fans appreciate the players tried to have a go at Bradford. But we lost and we know the importance of trying to get something from every game.”