Latics reveal the numbers game

NUMBER 21 - Danny Byrnes

ATHLETIC'S squad numbers list for the coming season contain a telling clue over where the club will continue looking to recruit.

The addition of Ollie Banks this week - he has taken the number eight shirt - means there is now only one position in the first 11 numbered shirts left to fill. And that is the 11 shirt.

Manager Stephen Robinson is without a natural left-footer within his midfield options and it is a situation he could look to rectify soon.

Trialist winger Liandro Martis is one possibility to take that shirt, if he signs the deal offered,having put on a lively show in scoring against Preston.

At the same time, there's also a health warning for anyone who believes that squad numbers are a cast-iron indication of a manager's thinking when it comes to naming a starting XI for the opening game at Millwall on Saturday, August 6.

Skipper Peter Clarke is a certain starter at The Den, but he has taken on the number 26 shirt in a squad that currently contains 21 professionals.

Numbers -

1. Connor Ripley; 2. Josh Law; 3. Jamie Reckord; 4. Brian Wilson; 5. Cameron Burgess; 6. Marc Klok; 7. Ryan Flynn; 8. Ollie Banks; 9. Billy Mckay; 10. Carl Winchester; 11. None; 12. None; 13. Chris Kettings; 14. Jake Cassidy; 15. George Edmundson; 16. Connor Brown; 17. Kallum Mantack; 18. None; 19. Lee Erwin; 20. Jamie Stott; 21. Danny Byrnes; 22. Luke Woodland; 23. Lee Knight; 26. Peter Clarke.