Latics loan pair set for cup call

New signings at Oldham Athletic Lee Hills and Darryl Flahavan (left) with Dave Penney.

ATHLETIC have boosted the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie at home to Leeds United (5.15) by signing Crystal Palace pair Darryl Flahavan and Lee Hills on loan, initially for a month.

Manager Dave Penney could now select the pair for the high-profile clash with the Coca-Cola Football League One leaders on Saturday night, having been given the green light by Palace boss Neil Warnock.

Flahavan is an experienced 30-year-old goalkeeper with close to 300 league appearances under his belt. Having spent the bulk of his career at Southend, he moved to Palace at the start of last season, where has since been understudy to Julian Speroni — a man this week branded the best ‘keeper in the country by former Latics boss Warnock.

Ironically, Flahavan spent a brief spell at Leeds last season without making a first-team appearance. He will now come into Penney’s line-up for his Athletic debut against the West Yorkshire side in place of Dean Brill, who has struggled at times this year and came in for criticism from some quarters for his part in Huddersfield’s free-kick winner last week.

Croydon-born defender Hills is only 19 years old but is highly rated and is a likely starter for Athletic in place of the now-departed loanee Alan Sheehan at left-back.

Having spent a month on loan with Colchester last season, Hills has made four appearances in the Championship for Palace this season with Warnock keen to give him more experience.

Leeds striker Tresor Kandol is set to miss miss Saturday night’s Cup tie through suspension.

The 28-year-old Congolese international has accepted an FA charge of violent conduct, resulting from an altercation at the end of the 4-0 home win against Yeovil at Elland Road .

It leaves his boss Simon Grayson with something of a headache. Of his other striking options, Luciano Becchio has been out for a month with an ankle injury and on-loan Wolves man Sam Vokes is ineligible.

Athletic defender Joe Jacobson came through last night’s reserves run-out against Blackpool, playing for an hour as a left-sided centre-back in an exciting 4-3 win at Ewen Fields.

Centre-back Laquan Esdaile-Biney scored with two headers for Athletic, left-back Paul Black got one and the injury-time winner came from Nick Blackman.

n THE ticket office is open today until 5pm and tomorrow up until 6pm ahead of the all-ticket cup game. Tickets can be bought over the phone to be collected prior to the match.