Eaves aims to drop a hint

HOT-SHOT Tom Eaves will aim to fire his way into manager Dave Penney’s thinking once again tonight.

The free-scoring striker, in the first team squad for the first time for the Leeds game at the weekend, lines up for Tony Philliskirk’s young guns at Boundary Park as Athletic bid to get past Stalybridge Celtic and into the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

Eaves, only 17 years old but 6ft 4in tall, has racked up 11 goals in 10 appearances for the youth team so far this season plus one for the reserves.

Penney admitted he was “tempted” to throw him into the fray off the bench as Athletic looked to grab an equaliser during the FA Cup exit, but in the end chose against it.

With on-loan Nick Blackman returning to the reckoning after being prevented from playing in the cup game last weekend - and Ryan Brooke also pushing hard for an opportunity - Penney has plenty of permutations up front to think about for the away game at Gillingham on Saturday.

Pawel Abbott is out of action for the next month at least — he is due back in the country tomorrow following his hernia operation in Germany — but Keigan Parker will be keen to play and it remains to be seen whether Penney elects to bring in a more experienced figure on loan to boost Athletic’s ailing goals tally, or opts to give youth its chance.

The Latics boss was today said to have one player in mind in terms of a loan swoop, but is still carefully considering such a move.

Brooke was on the scoresheet as Athletic’s reserves took on Morecambe in a training-ground friendly at Chapel Road yesterday.

The game, won 2-1 by Athletic against a side including former player Will Haining, also featured run-outs for first-teamers Dean Brill, Kieran Lee, Joe Jacobson and Paul Black.

Coaching trio Penney, assistant Martin Gray and first team coach Lee Duxbury all watched the match, which was arranged as a result of Athletic having no reserves fixture this week.

TONIGHT’S rearranged FA Youth Cup first round tie against Stalybridge Celtic takes place at Boundary Park with a 7.30pm kick-off.

The game was originally due to be played on Monday but dense fog led to a postponement. Admission is £4 adults, £2 concessions.