Front line dilemma

OH, I SAY . . . two-goal Darius Osei bursts into the penalty box against Carlisle. He has staked his claim for a start tomorrow

FOUR into two doesn't go - leaving Athletic's manager Stephen Robinson with a real striker selection dilemma as he bids to claim a first three points on home soil against Shrewsbury.

Darius Osei changed the game in scoring twice against Carlisle in midweek after coming on as a substitute and new on-loan striker Freddie Ladapo was very lively on his first outing against the same opponents.

Add in Billy Mckay, who netted with a very smart finish in the first half having looked sharp against Bradford, and Lee Erwin - rested in midweek but a bright, creative presence throughout early season - and it's clear that Robinson had some thinking to do as he shapes a side with sufficient firepower to overcome the struggling Shrews.

"We have four strikers fighting for a place - I might just play all four of them!" joked Robinson, who won't have new signing Cameron Dummigan available tomorrow with the right-back due to play for Northern Ireland's under-21s against Iceland tonight.

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"There are lots of options available to us and that is what we want.

"Freddie's not played for five weeks. He has been in and around the Palace first team so he has sat on the bench and in the stand and has only trained sporadically.

"Everyone can see he gives us an injection of strength and pace and when you get Lee Erwin back on the pitch as well, you have now got decent firepower.

"But first and foremost, we have to be hard to beat."

Athletic must field five of the players who started in the Carlisle Checkatrade Trophy defeat or be fined £5,000.

Goalkeeper Connor Ripley, centre-back and skipper Peter Clarke and experienced midfielder Paul Green are guaranteed to come back in and it's likely that there will be a spot for Ousmane Fane, too.

Lee Croft is pushing for a starting place, having had nearly as big an impact as Osei in midweek, and could get the nod over Ryan McLaughlin who has yet to hit the heights as he works his way to full fitness.

Jamie Reckord is due to see a specialist over the hip flexor trouble he has had and though winger Calaum Jahraldo-Martin has trained all week, he won't be in contention until the visit of Chesterfield tomorrow week.

Overall, Robinson is happy with the squad he has assembled and the assistance he has had behind the scenes.

"We have done good business, which I have said before," he added. "Hopefully, it allows us to compete well at this level.

"You are starting to see understandings developing now within the team and we are creating good chances.

"In all, we have a decent squad here. We have a bottom-six budget but I have to credit the chairman Simon Corney who has been very supportive."

Now, the focus is on getting victories as the second month of the season gets underway.

"We are unbeaten in the league for four games and we want to continue with that," Robinson said. "Getting a point away from home, you want to back it up with three at home.

"We have two home games coming up and hopefully, we can get numbers through the door in terms of support."

Athletic (probable, 4-4-2): Ripley; Law, Clarke, Burgess, Dunne; Croft, Fane, Green, Flynn; Ladapo, Mckay.

Subs (from): Kettings, Wilson, Edmundson, Banks, Winchester, Woodland, McLaughlin, Klok, Osei, Erwin.