Fringe players out to impress

KEIGAN PARKER: Reserves outing.

A HOST of players on the fringe of Athletic’s first team have the chance to impress boss Dave Penney tonight.

With the team currently misfiring up front, the main focus is certain to be on the attacking options within reserves coach Lee Duxbury’s squad which travels to take on Manchester City at the Regional Athletics Arena (7pm kick-off).

Having registered no goals in the last three matches and only three in seven in all competitions, the striking trio of Keigan Parker — dropped from the starting line-up for the away trip to Gillingham — Ryan Brooke and young Tom Eaves will hope to force their way into Penney’s thinking ahead of a Coca-Cola League One test against Colchester United at Boundary Park this Saturday.

Along with on-loan Nick Blackman, those three appear to be vying for one of two forward line spots for the visit of the Essex side, who are currently third in the division mainly thanks to an excellent home record.

Also in the squad for tonight’s Manchester Senior Cup clash is Dale Stephens, who is back at Boundary Park after his three-month loan stint at League Two neighbours Rochdale expired.

The 21-year-old Stephens started his third game for Dale at the weekend but was withdrawn three minutes from half-time with his team 2-0 down at home to Chesterfield. Rochdale went on to lose 3-2.

The former Bury trainee, signed from Droylsden at the start of last season, made six appearances in total during his three-month stay at Spotland.

Joe Jacobson, yet to play in Athletic’s first team, continues his comeback from injury and is likely to line up at centre-back, while Joe Colbeck and Kieran Lee will have an eye on a starting spot against Colchester, particularly with central midfielder Dean Furman sitting it out after picking up a one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards this season.

Reserves (from): Brill, McKerr, Black, Rowney, Ojapah, Jacobson, Colbeck, Stephens, Parker, Brooke, Lee, Eaves, Ollerenshaw, Esdaile-Biney, Steer, Fodor.


BOURNEMOUTH avoided a winding–up order this morning after paying off their debt to HM Revenue and Customs.

The petition issued to HMRC was dismissed at Liverpool Combined Court after the League Two club paid taxes totalling around £400,000.