Latics close in on loan move

Latics close in on loan move


ATHLETIC are on the verge of completing the loan capture of a player from a Premier League club.

And the youngster is likely to go straight into the team for Saturday’s important home Coca-Cola League One fixture against Northampton Town.

Manager John Sheridan has been tracking the player since before the close of the January transfer window.

But he was unable to complete the loan move because of complications beyond their control which involved the player and his parent club.

Those have been resolved and it is expected the player will tomorrow complete his temporary transfer to Boundary Park.

Meanwhile, Sheridan’s search for a goalkeeper for Saturday, when Greg Fleming is suspended following his sending off at Leicester, continues.

The Athletic manager, who is also without the injured Mark Crossley, had drawn blanks with enquiries for a number of players.

In the event of Sheridan failing to bring in a keeper, he will turn to first-year professional Josh Bell who would be making his debut.

Sheridan has praised Bell’s ability, his only reservation being his lack of experience which is why he would prefer a more experienced shot-stopper.

Full-back Neal Eardley, meanwhile, was an unused substitute for the full Wales side last night when they lost 1-0 in a friendly against Poland in a match played in Portugal.

Had the 20-year-old Eardley got on to the pitch, it would have been his 10th cap for his country.

Athletic are confident Saturday’s home game against the Cobblers will beat the freeze.

They removed some of the snow from the Boundary Park pitch yesterday and the ground was soft underneath. Covers were placed on the surface to protect it from the frost, with temperatures down to minus five last night.

With the temperature forecast possibly not dropping below zero on Friday night and up to six degrees on Saturday, club officials believe the game ought to get the go-ahead.