Latics will take game to leaders Burton

Photo: Alan Howarth

MATT PALMER . . . the young midfielder is ineligible to play against his parent club on Saturday.

ATHLETIC face being without key players for the crucial double-header against Burton and Chesterfield.

Burton loan duo Matt Palmer and Timmy Thiele are both ineligible for the clash at the Pirelli Stadium.

The televised contest on Saturday pits Sheridan’s side against a club six points clear at the top of Sky Bet League One and in sight of promotion to the Championship.

There is also the possibility that Carl Winchester could be picked up by the Northern Ireland squad. He is on the standby list and could get the call if the team collects injuries in Thursday night’s friendly in Wales, since there is a follow-up game at home to Slovenia on Easter Monday.

Cameron Dummigan, who has been missing from Athletic’s last two games due to illness, is involved with Northern Ireland under-21s, who are away to Scotland at St Mirren on March 29.

Loan Burnley full-back Dummigan can play at Burton, but won’t be available for the home match against Chesterfield on Easter Monday (3pm kick-off).

Ineligible players and a heavy run of fixtures persuaded Sheridan to ignore his preference for no more than five loan players in a squad, since he brought in Tareiq Holmes-Dennis from Charlton late last week.

“Ideally, I wouldn’t want to leave a loan player out, but it is important we have enough fit players,” Sheridan said. “We have so many games coming up, I think I can cope with it.”

Palmer will be a big miss for Athletic at Burton, but Sheridan says his side will enter that game with an attacking mindset.

“Burton will expect a tough game from us, as we go there knowing the importance of trying to get the three points,” the Athletic explained. “It’s on television as well, so we will to try to give a good performance and we believe we can win the game.

“We are not going to sit back because they are top of the league. Nigel Clough (the manager) will know he is going to have a tough game. I’s important the players reflect on Rochdale and what we can do better. Little things cost us.”