Gerrard deal lifts Latics

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 19 March 2015


ANTHONY Gerrard is to sign for Athletic until the end of the season as manager Dean Holden attempts to tighten his defence with experience and leadership.

A deal has been agreed with Huddersfield Town for the 29 year old, a cousin of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, to join on emergency terms. Gerrard has been out of the first team at Huddersfield since January following a calf injury. Others have ince jumped the queue for spots in the side.

But the experienced centre-back will step straight into the back four as Athletic attempt to gain a much-needed positive result at Crewe on Saturday.

“We go to Crewe, put in a performance and everyone is quickly looking upwards,” said Holden, who hopes one or two of his injured players will be back for the Gresty Road game.

“At the moment there doesn’t look like there is a lot of hope for a successful end to the season. So that is the challenge for myself, staff and players: to go out there and put a bit of pride back in the shirt and make sure we stay in games.”

It is hoped Gerrard’s arrival will stiffen up a back line that has looked severely vulnerable.

With James Wilson and George Elokobi both absent with calf injuries, the last three games at home have seen the team let in 10 goals. Adam Lockwood comes back into the reckoning after serving a one-match ban and he may accompany the new man in defence.

A former trainee at Everton, Gerrard spent four years at Walsall, where he won the League Two title in 2007 following relegation the year before.

A move to Cardiff for a six-figure fee came in 2009 and after a season on loan at Hull where he was named as fans’ player of the year, Gerrard was part of the Bluebirds team that reached the League Cup final three years ago.

Known as a player with a strong personality, he has made 91 appearances for Huddersfield in three years at the John Smith’s Stadium.



CARL Winchester has been named Athletic’s player of the month for February. The elegant midfield man (21) scored the only goal of the game at Scunthorpe with a superb solo effort and his performances through the month were enough to secure the award.