FRANKIE Bunn is facing a selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table crunch with Newport County at Boundary Park.

Frontmen Sam Surridge and Callum Lang performed exceptionally well in tandem against Barnsley in the 2-1 Checkatrade Trophy defeat on Tuesday. Surridge, on a season-long loan from Bournemouth, weighing in with a well-taken goal.

And with Chris O’Grady and Jonathan Benteke offering options up front – Jose Baxter is another who can operate in that department if required – the Latics boss certainly has some food for thought.

He said: “The lads who came in on Tuesday gave me plenty to think about. The front players, in particular, ran their socks off and Sam Surridge got his goal.

“Sam is a good finisher as we’ve seen. He works hard, as does Callum Lang – the pair of them were a constant threat on Tuesday.

“We wanted to give Callum longer, but he tired towards the end. He’s full of zest, enthusiasm and aggression. He’s all of that. “We’ve got Chris O’Grady as well, who has done a terrific job.”

With goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and wideman Gevaro Nepomuceno each on international duty — Zeus De La Paz deputised in goal on Tuesday — the Athletic boss will again be forced into a rethink for the latest League Two test.

Iversen was named in Denmark’s under-21 squad for their European qualifying matches against Finland and Lithuania.

Nepomuceno – who has hit two goals in as many games – also received a call-up from his national side and has flown out to Curacao.

Bunn said: “We’ve got plenty of options and we can bring in a goalkeeper on an emergency loan if required but Zeus did OK on Tuesday.”

Defensive midfielder Jordan Lyden – on-loan from Aston Villa – won’t be available against the Welshmen, who sit second in the table after Bunn revealed he is currently on the sidelines with injury.

He added: “We’re waiting to hear on a scan after he broke down.

“The loan agreement is incentive-based. If he doesn’t reach the games required then, financially, it doesn’t cost the club anything.

“We’ve taken a gamble on him, which we have to sometimes with players because that’s the position we’re in. He’s a terrific young player who is going through a bad period injury-wise at the minute, but it’s costing the club nothing.”

Latics will wait on Ishmael Miller who has been suffering with injury and then a sickness bug. Midfielder Giles Coke also remains a doubt.

It’s a clash between two of the division’s form sides on Saturday with Latics up to sixth after recent results heralded 10 points from a possible 12.

Bunn said: “It’s a big one. We’ll pull our sleeves up and have a right go at them.

“Whoever plays on Saturday we know we’ll be ready.”

Newport, who have exciting former Athletic forward Keanu Marsh-Brown in their ranks, won 2-1 at Port Vale in their latest outing. Like Latics, they are unbeaten since the opening day of the season.

Manager Mike Flynn is facing his own selection dilemma in attack with Antoine Semenyo ruled out with concussion, while Mark Harris is also unavailable having been called up to the Wales squad.

It’s Newport’s first visit to Boundary Park for 37 years when they were beaten 1-0 in the League Cup.