Latics dismiss Hughes link

CHRIS TAYLOR

ATHLETIC have dismissed reports linking them with a loan move for Hull City midfield player Bryan Hughes.

Assistant manager Martin Gray believes it came about because he and manager Dave Penney were at the Burnley versus Hull City reserve-team match this week in which Hughes featured.

Gray added that 33-year-old Hughes, who has also played for Wrexham, Birmingham City and Charlton, would be out of their reach financially.

Penney has also laughed off suggestions Chris Taylor could be about to join Leeds in a swap which would see on-loan Alan Sheehan switching to Boundary Park permanently.

Taylor has long been admired by Leeds while Penney is trying to secure Sheehan for a second month while left-back Joe Jacobson recovers from injury.

Penney said: “We have received no bids and no inquiries for any player, and this is the first time I have heard about it.

“We are not looking to move players on, especially our better ones.”

Penney is looking for Athletic to consolidate their top-10 spot in Coca-Cola League One with victory against Yeovil tomorrow at Boundary Park.

Athletic have turned their season around after three straight victories and the manager said: “We have had a good 10 days, but we need to carry it on against Yeovil.

“We raised our standards against MK Dons and have to make sure we do so again and back it up with another hard-working performance.

“It’s amazing how quickly things change in football. Two weeks ago we were fourth bottom and now we are in seventh place.”

Jon Worthington returns to the squad after recovering from the ankle injury which has kept him out of the last four matches.

The former Huddersfield midfield man is likely to be on the bench because Penney will, in all probability, name the same team which kicked off against MK Dons.

Youngster Michael McKerr, the Irish lad recently signed, could also feature in the squad after recovering from a hamstring strain.

ATHLETIC (probable squad): Brill, Lomax, Sheehan, Hazell, Gregan, Whitaker, Furman, Marrow, Taylor, Abbott, Parker, Worthington, Lee, Black, Brooke, Ollerenshaw, Rowney, Colbeck, Bembo-Leta, McKerr.

Yeovil have a doubt about right-back Craig Alcock who was hurt in Tuesday’s goalless draw at Millwall.

Former Athletic defender Stefan Stam has failed to recover from a knee injury sustained a fortnight ago and misses out on a return to Boundary Park.

THE Oldham Athletic Supporters’ Association quiz scheduled for next Monday, October 5, has been put back a week to October 12.

It will take place in the Corner Flag Suite at Boundary Park, starting at 7.30pm.