Win impresses Kilkenny

NEIL Kilkenny: pictured after his last game for Athletic, which was against Leeds United.

LEEDS United midfielder Neil Kilkenny is tipping Athletic to enjoy a prosperous season.
Kilkenny didn’t play in Saturday’s game at Elland Road as he had only just returned from international duty at the Olympics, but he watched from the stands and was impressed by his former team.

Athletic ran out convincing 2-0 winners and dominated a home side who are widely expected to challenge for promotion.

Kilkenny joined Leeds from Birmingham in January after spending the first half of last season on loan with Athletic.

He said: “Obviously I know most of the players and I think Oldham will do well this year.
“I’ve always thought they would have a chance of promotion if they could put a bigger squad together, which seems to have happened in the last few months.”

Ironically, Kilkenny’s last appearance for Athletic was in their 3-1 victory at Leeds on New Year’s Day.

He later helped the Yorkshire side to the play-off final at Wembley but is now facing a tough battle to regain his place.

The 22-year-old opted to miss most of pre-season at Leeds — and also their first three league and cup fixtures — in order to link up with Australia.

He featured in the Aussies’ first Olympic Games match against Argentina, but they were knocked out at the group stage.

Leeds boss Gary McAllister warned: “I don’t think Neil is under any illusions because it’s very competitive here.

“We’ve got seven or eight top-quality midfielders for this level. He should be in good physical condition, but maybe he’s a player to watch further down the line.”

o ATHLETIC’S youth team got their campaign off to a great start with a 5-0 win at Morecambe in the Puma Youth Alliance North West League.

Coach Tony Philliskirk was delighted with the quality of football as his side hammered four goals before half-time.

Ryan Brooke, who was named on the subs’ bench for a first-team game last season, led the way with a hat-trick, while Tom Eaves scored twice.

There was a sad blow, however, when 17-year-old Ben Lysons suffered serious knee damage — Lysons missed all of last season with a cruciate-ligament injury.

Athletic have taken on eight first-year trainees this year. They are defenders Richard Cowan, Joshua Rose and Laquan Esdaile, goalkeeper Anthony White, strikers Tom Eaves and Djeny Bembo-Leta, left-sided Will McCall and winger Phillip McGrath, who has been brought over from Northern Ireland.