Wilko return hopes fading

IT IS looking unlikely Conor Wilkinson will return this week for a second loan spell with Athletic.

Teenager Wilkinson made a terrific impact during his month’s loan in September.

Lee Johnson confirmed last week that he wanted to get Wilkinson back - but the Athletic boss said: “Conor’s got a knock to his knee, so it doesn’t look like it will happen before the loan deadline on Thursday.

“And Bolton have loaned Jermaine Beckford to Preston, so it’s doubtful he’ll be coming back. We have still got a couple of irons in the fire, but we haven’t got a lot of disposable cash so it could be a case of knuckling down with what we’ve got. We might be able to get a free loan, but that would probably be a young player - someone who might have an effect from the bench.”

Johnson confirmed it is unlikely last week’s triallist Roope Riski will be signed, due to transfer fee being asked by his current Finnish club, Honefoss. His “unrealistic” wage demands would also present a problem.

Johnson said defender David Mellor could well leave the club before Thursday: “We have had a couple of bits of interest and it might be the right time for David to go out on loan, possibly with a view to a permanent move. We’re certainly not ruling him out of our squad, but it is proving difficult for him to get in the team.”