Supple agrees to Latics loan

Chris Taylor: Hopes rising he will be fit for weekend.

JOE ROYLE has completed his first signing on his return to Athletic as Ipswich Town goalkeeper Shane Supple has agreed to an initial one-month loan spell at Boundary Park.

Royle moved quickly for the Eire under-21 international as Greg Fleming is still battling to overcome a leg injury and the experienced Mark Crossley is some way off fitness after back surgery.

Fleming may be able to resume full training tomorrow after being ruled out of Saturday’s 6-2 hammering at MK Dons with a leg-muscle strain.

He was injured against Colchester but was on the bench on Saturday in the event of an emergency. However, kicking duties have been ruled out until the damaged muscle, which runs from above his hip to his knee, has completely recovered.

Royle is still working on bringing in another one or two loan signings, although he feels there is no urgency as he was pleased with the attitude and application of the existing squad when he supervised his first training session - an 11-a-side practice game yesterday.

One notable absentee was Chris Taylor, but Athletic are increasingly hopeful that the 22-year-old winger will bit fit for Saturday’s crucial home game against Tranmere Rovers.

Taylor was sent for a precautionary scan yesterday after taking a painful blow to a calf muscle at Milton Keynes, where he was forced off at half time.

Physiotherapist Mark Czuczman says the injury is unrelated to the calf strain which ruled Taylor out of the previous game against Colchester and is hopeful the player will be back in training in the next couple of days.

Centre-back Sean Gregan suffered a nose injury in training in an accidental clash of heads with Lee Hughes but will be fit for weekend.

Royle was at Cheltenham last night to watch them play Tranmere as the game featured Athletic’s next two opponents. Bottom-of-the-table Cheltenham did Athletic a favour by winning 1-0.

Meanwhile, Athletic say they have enjoyed an upturn in interest following Royle’s appointment as the ticket office was far busier than normal on the Monday and Tuesday before a Saturday game.

A few hospitality packages are still available in the Sponsors Lounge and Chronicle Suite.
Contact Mike Platt on 0871 2261659.