Quest for front man as Latics wait on Forte

CONOR Wilkinson tries to make his presence felt in the Gillingham penalty area.

JONATHAN Forte could be ready to face Swindon tomorrow — but Athletic must play a waiting game on a striker target.

Forte missed the scoreless home draw with Gillingham with a thigh injury, but the club’s five-goal top scorer has a chance of appearing in the league clash at the County Ground.

“Were not sure,” Johnson said of Forte’s chances of featuring tomorrow. “He has a small tear in the sheath of the muscle on the outside of his thigh.

“It’s very difficult to judge the time scale. It’s normally seven to 10 days and he did it last week, so there’s a definite possibility.”

Nineteen-year-old striker Conor Wilkinson arrived on the eve of the Gillingham clash on a month’s youth loan from Bolton and made his debut as a second-half substitute against the Gills.

Johnson, though, is still continuing to chase down a more experienced front man.

“We are trying,” said the manager. “We have a target earmarked, but a couple of things have to happen first. The player has had a slight niggle and we will just have to see.”

Swindon won 2-1 at Bradford on Saturday to move to sixth in the division, five places and two points clear of Athletic.

“I know they are a really good side,” said Johnson. “We will need to be at our best to get a result.

“We go there with a good platform to play off, hoping someone can produce the goods in the box.”


DAVID Noble signed another short-term deal with Athletic on Friday, enabling the midfield man to immediately head out on loan to Exeter City. The 32-year-old is not expected to make a playing return at SportsDirect.com Park.