Davies back on side for Latics

TRADING PLACES . . . Craig Davies, in action against Stockport earlier this season, is back with Athletic following a two-month loan spell at Edgeley Park.

CRAIG Davies will cast sentiment aside if he is called upon to shoot Athletic to victory over Stockport County at Boundary Park tomorrow.

The 23-year-old striker, who recently had a two-month loan spell at Edgeley Park, insists there will be no divided loyalties.

Davies, who scored six goals in 13 appearances for the Hatters, said: “I had an enjoyable two months at Stockport where things went well.

“That is in the past, though, and if I get the chance to play in the game, I will be giving my best for Oldham.

“Obviously the most important thing is for Oldham to get three points which is what we will all be working to achieve.

“Admittedly, it will be strange playing against people who were team-mates until a few weeks ago, but I will enjoy it if I get the chance to play a part in the game.

“It would also be nice to get a goal.”

Davies has been on the substitutes’ bench for Athletic’s three games since he returned from Stockport.

And he has yet to score for the club this season despite finishing as their 14-goal leading marksman last term.

Davies, who hasn’t started a game for Athletic since mid-October, was impressed with Stockport who are on the fringes of the play-off places after winning promotion via the play-offs in May.

He said: “MK Dons, Peterborough and Stockport have done well since being promoted and are all near the top of the table.

“I am not surprised to see Stockport up there as they have a good, young group of players and there are five or six who are decent and who could go on to make it at a higher level.

“I think the average age of their side is only 21 or 22 years and there can’t be a younger team in League One.”

With only 10 points separating MK Dons, who are second, and eighth-placed Huddersfield, Davies says consistency will be the key to Athletic achieving their goal of winning promotion.

He pointed out that until the unexpected hammering at second-bottom Hereford last Saturday, Athletic had been performing consistently to build a 10-game unbeaten run.

Stockport, meanwhile, continued their impressive campaign last Saturday with a 3-1 home victory over Southend United.

The only cloud on the horizon for the Hatters is their financial situation as manager Jim Gannon looks as though he will have to sell some of his best players such as Anthony Pilkington and Tommy Rowe in order to balance the books.

While Davies will be aiming to shoot Athletic to victory, Stockport striker Matty McNeill will be plotting the downfall of his home-town team providing he recovers from injury.

McNeill, the 32-year-old from Alt, is battling to overcome a long-standing back problem which flared up again in training last week and kept him out of the game against Southend.
There could also be a baptism of fire for Athletic’s on-loan left back Scott Golbourne, who is likely to be up against his Reading team-mate Dave Mooney.

Mooney (24), who is on loan at Stockport, became the latest player from Ireland to be signed by the Royals in a £250,000 transfer from Cork City last August.

TOMORROW’S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES

Bristol Rovers v Colchester

Cheltenham v Brighton

Leeds v Peterborough

Leicester v Huddersfield

Northampton v Crewe

Athletic v Stockport

Scunthorpe v Leyton Orient

Southend v Yeovil

Tranmere v Carlisle

Walsall v Hereford.