Jones blow hits Latics loan plan

Daniel Jones: Still recovering from an ankle injury.

ATHLETIC’S hopes of resurrecting a long-term loan deal for Wolves left-back Daniel Jones have been dealt a blow.

Molineux manager Mick McCarthy, a spectator at Boundary Park last night, revealed the 22-year-old is another month away from a return to action.

This contradicted a message Athletic had received from the player’s agent who had informed them Jones was resuming training yesterday.

That rekindled hopes that Athletic manager John Sheridan may be able to secure Jones for the remainder of the season.

Jones joined Athletic from Wolves on a three-month loan in early October, but returned early after he badly injured an ankle last month at Peterborough.

But with a return still some time away, Sheridan will have to look elsewhere for a left-back, a position he has identified as his main priority.

Athletic have already set the wheels in motion and have a left-back on trial at Boundary Park this week, though they are not in a position to reveal his identity.

Athletic’s match against Hartlepool last night attracted a plethora of scouts, including representative from six Coca-Cola Championship clubs.

McCarthy and his No 2 Terry Connor were the most high-profile visitors, though Swansea and Preston North End also had senior personnel in attendance.

It can only be presumed they were making checks on Athletic’s sought-after pair of Chris Taylor and Lee Hughes, who have both been the subject of interest.

Athletic have confirmed that clubs have made enquiries for Taylor, but nobody has yet met their valuation.

Hughes, meanwhile, has a £400,000 opt-out clause in his contract which would enable the 32-year-old striker to move in the event of a club paying that cash.

Kieran Lee was ruled out of last night’s game with flu having been ill since the middle of last week.

Lee had been in line for a recall as Mark Allott was suspended. In the event Deane Smalley was handed a rare start, his first since the FA Cup defeat against Cheltenham Town in mid-November, and he hit Athletic’s winner (see pages 34/35).

o THE reserves are in action tomorrow with a trip to Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire Senior Cup (noon kick-off).