PAUL Terry insists it isn’t easy to leave good players out of a matchday squad but says it’s a nice problem to have with Latics now able to boast a fully-fit group.

The first-team coach was on press duties today as under-the-weather Richie Wellens stayed away from Boundary Park to eliminate the risk of illness spreading through the club.

With Eoin Doyle and Patrick McEleney raring to go after both finding the net as second-half substitutes at Scunthorpe last week, Terry admits there are some tough selection calls to make ahead of Saturday’s derby showdown at Gigg Lane – a game where supporters can now pay on the day in Bury’s East Stand, having sold all 2,200 tickets behind the goal at the opposite end of the ground.

He said: “It’s a nice problem to have. If you go back a few weeks, we just about had enough players to make up the squad but now everyone’s fit and ready to play.”

An impressive bench at Glanford Park featured Doyle, McEleney, Ryan McLaughlin, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Rob Hunt and Brian Wilson – all of whom could arguably have made the 11 on another day.

“It’s hard when the manager has to leave good players out because everyone works hard on the training pitch to get themselves in the 18,” added Terry.

“But our job as staff is to pick the 11 and the overall group of 18 that we feel can go and win a game.”

Athletic fielded a strong reserve line-up on Tuesday in a 2-2 behind-closed-doors friendly draw at Fleetwood in a bid to keep some of the fringe players ticking over. Tope Obadeyi and Jonathan Benteke were on the scoresheet.

Terry said: “We have to make sure if there are injuries we’ve got players who are ready to step in.”

“The side we put out on Tuesday was very strong. Looking at it, you could probably put that team out on a Saturday if needed – and that’s exactly what we want.

“Managers say it a lot – and it’s true – if you have two players for every position then you’re going to have a good chance of pushing for things.

“Players think it’s a chore sometimes playing for the reserves. Sometimes it isn’t ideal but it’s all there to help them.

“Everything we do is to help them be ready for the game at the weekend.”

Terry believes the club would benefit from having a full reserve team programme in place one day – as would the players themselves.

He said: “It would be good because you would have regular games.

“We’ve found ourselves scratching around sometimes to get a game organised.

“If you get into a league, at least you know there’s 16 games a season and you can still add others to it.”

Athletic have no new injury concerns heading into Saturday’s match after Terry revealed Amadi-Holloway, who took a nasty knock to the knee in the 2-0 victory at Scunthorpe, has now fully recovered.

“Aaron’s a big, strong lad,” said Terry.

“It was a brave tackle – but it’s what you need to do and it gave Doyle his chance.

“It actually looked a lot worse than it was. He had a bit of a sore knee earlier in the week but still managed to train so he’ll be fine.”

Latics make the short trip on the back of three wins from the last four, garnering 10 points out of a possible 12 to lift themselves out of the drop zone.

The Shakers slipped to the foot of League One in midweek when Rochdale leapfrogged them after winning 3-0 at Walsall.

However, their form has picked up of late, losing just one of their last seven – and that was at table-topping Blackburn.

Peter Clarke – the former Latics skipper on loan at Bury until the end of the season – won’t be allowed to play against his parent club.

But another familiar face to Latics fans, goalkeeper Connor Ripley, is set to continue between the sticks for Ryan Lowe’s side following his loan move from Middlesbrough earlier this season.

Oldham-born Harry Bunn – son of Latics legend Frankie – is likely to start on the wing.