Jacobson back in Latics action

Joe Jacobson in the pre-season friendly against Bury.

SUMMER-SIGNING Joe Jacobson makes his long-awaited competitive debut for Athletic in tonight’s reserve-team match against Wrexham at Hyde (7.0).

The 22-year-old left-back has yet to feature having sustained a pelvic injury pre-season.

It was feared at one stage the former Wales under-21 international might have a hernia which would have required surgery. But scans have revealed it was a pelvic problem and a series of injections seems to have finally cured the problem.

Athletic have also received a further double boost on the injury front involving Chris Taylor and long-term absentee Rob Purdie.

Taylor, who also has a pelvic problem, is making such good progress that he could be back in the side at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

The sought-after winger was able to join in with some of yesterday’s first-team training and is expected to be able to resume fully by tomorrow, providing there is no reaction.

Utility-player Purdie, yet another player who has been plagued by a pelvic problem, yesterday completed his first full training session since June.

Purdie, a capture from Darlington, was injured at the beginning of June when the players were ordered back for an extra week’s training.

Assistant manager Martin Gray believes increased competition for places can only be good for the club.

Gray has also been delighted with the response of the players following Friday’s hefty home defeat by Hartlepool.

He believes the absence of a midweek match has been beneficial as they have been able to put in extra work on the training ground.

Gray does not believe there is much wrong with the team providing they start to take the chances they are creating.

“It would be worse if weren’t creating chances which we have done in every game. We simply need to start killing off teams,” he explained.

Gray maintains that with hard work things will soon come together.

“We need a little luck and for the chances to go in and that would take the pressure off.”

Jacobson will be joined in the reserves tonight by the likes of Kelvin Lomax, Kieran Lee and Chris Rowney.