Byfield is here for long haul

DARREN BYFIELD

ONLY one game into his Athletic career, Darren Byfield is already targeting a longer stay at Boundary Park.

Byfield signed an initial one-month loan deal, but he hopes it will be extended as his recent move to Doncaster hasn't worked out.

The 32-year-old is a talented and much-travelled striker who looked sharp on his Athletic debut at Northampton on Saturday.

Athletic had been trailing him for some time, and Byfield admits he doesn't want to be remembered as a one-month wonder.

He said: “I’m looking to score a few goals straight away and get the loan extended.

“I haven’t been playing a lot of football at Doncaster, so I was pleased to come here and I believe I can do well for Oldham.

“I came in pretty late (Byfield signed last Friday afternoon), so part of my debut was about working out the strengths of the other players.

“But it doesn’t take too long – maybe about 15 minutes – to see how people are playing and where they want to run.

“I thought it was a great team performance, especially because Northampton hadn’t lost at home all season, and it was a debut I was pleased with.

“The disappointing thing was that I didn’t score. I had a couple of chances and there was another one where I should have squared it to Lee Hughes.

“I apologised to him afterwards, but it has been a while since I scored and I got a bit excited.

“Even at my age that can happen, but I’ve got a few more games to make it up to Hughesy.

“As a striker it’s no good always saying three points are the most important thing – you want to be scoring goals.

“That’s what you are judged on, so hopefully I’ll do that for Oldham. And if I have to go back to Doncaster, I want to have done my bit here.”

Byfield joined Doncaster during the summer, but he struggled to hold down a starting place despite their chronic lack of firepower.

It was something of a surprise that the Championship’s bottom team, who had managed only seven goals in 16 league games, would allow a proven striker to leave, but Athletic were delighted.

Byfield was top scorer for Bristol City last term, helping them reach the play-off final at Wembley where they lost to Hull in the quest for a Premier League spot.

He started out with Aston Villa and, either permanently or on loan, has also appeared for Preston, Northampton, Cambridge, Blackpool, Walsall, Rotherham, Sunderland, Gillingham and Millwall.

Born near Birmingham, Byfield is a full Jamaican international who is well known outside the game for his long-term relationship with award-winning singer Jamelia.

Rather more importantly to Athletic, he is looking to form a dynamic partnership with co-striker Hughes.

Byfield said: “I already knew him socially because we are both Midlands boys, but I’m very pleased to link up with Hughesy here.

“Even though I’m 32 I can learn from him because he has played in the top flight and his movement is second to none.

“I like to think we caused Northampton a few problems between us, and Hughesy did great to win the penalty.

“He showed movement and strength, so it was everything you want from a striker.”

Athletic boss John Sheridan is also hoping the Byfield-Hughes pairing will shoot his team further up the table.

Sheridan said: “You’d like to think they will do okay together because they both have craft in the box.

“I was very pleased with Darren’s first game. He worked his socks off and fitted in well.

“He only met the other lads at the hotel before the game, which is never ideal, but his performance for the team was good.

“It’s nice to have variation in your strikers and Darren gives us that bit of pace. He’ll be an asset.”