Latics put loan transfers on hold

DEFENDER James Wilson is back in contention for Saturday’s visit of Preston.

ATHLETIC boss Lee Johnson has no plans to dash back to the loan transfer market following Jon Stead’s return to parent club Huddersfield Town.

Target man Stead (30) returned to the Terriers on Monday following a month and five non-scoring appearances at Boundary Park.

Johnson is in no rush to try to replace him - and other areas of the squad may need attention before the transfer window closes on March 21.

“We’ll be going with what we’ve got for the next few games,” said Johnson. “I’m not ruling out another move before the deadline though. We’ve only got three players in on loan and we’re allowed five.

“To be honest we’re a bit short on defenders and wide men at the moment.”

“There are players out there I know we could bring in, and I know they want to join us, but having said that I might not go back into the market at all yet.

“We’ve enough players in the squad, but I just feel we’re still a bit light in certain areas.”

One player available for Saturday’s game at home to Preston is Welsh defender James Wilson.

The 25 year old, signed following his release from Bristol City on January 31, had played in five consecutive games until last weekend’s trip to Tranmere when he was ill. he has now recovered and will be available for selection.

Genseric Kusunga is still at least a month away after pulling a thigh muscle last week.



ATHLETIC’s Carl Winchester and Kirk Millar are in the Northern Ireland under-21 squad for today’s European Championship qualifier against Italy at Glenavon’s Mourneview Park stadium.

The match kicks off at 4pm.