Latics wrap up Byfield loan

Lee Hughes (right): Named in the League One team of the week.

ATHLETIC have persuaded Doncaster Rovers to loan them striker Darren Byfield for a second month.

Manager Sean O’Driscoll is allowing the 32-year-old striker to remain at Boundary Park over the Christmas/New Year period.

But there is a 24-hour recall clause in the new deal in the event of Doncaster needing his services. That is something which is not permissible in the initial month.

Byfield, who has made four appearances for Athletic, is set to remain for a further five matches, ending with the visit of Hartlepool on January 10.

Athletic will therefore have plenty of forward options over the next month with Byfield joining Lee Hughes, Chris O’Grady and Deane Smalley, while Craig Davies is due back in the opening week of January after a loan spell at Stockport.

Hughes, who scored both of Athletic’s goals in the 2–2 draw at Peterborough on Saturday, has been named in the League One team of the week. Those goals took his season’s total to 11.

Peterborough striker Aaron McLean is claiming the opening goal against Athletic, even though it has been debited to defender Stefan Stam putting through his own goal.

Posh are intending to submit video footage of the goal to the Football League to substantiate their claim that McLean’s shot would have hit the target without Stam’s intervention.

Discounted ticket sales for Saturday’s home game against Leyton Orient have picked up this week.

Athletic have sold 5,800 tickets for the match which includes season-ticket holders as they inch towards their target of 8,000.

It is a case of buy one, get one free as two adult tickets can be bought for £10. Children are £2 apiece so a family of four can see the match for £14.

Supporters they have until five o’clock on Friday to buy tickets at these prices.

Fans can buy tickets on the day at £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and over-65s which still represents a large reduction on the normal matchday prices.