O’Grady set for Athletic return

Chris O’Grady enjoying his loan spell at Rochdale.

CHRIS O’GRADY will DEFINITELY return to Boundary Park when his loan spell at Rochdale expires, says Athletic boss Dave Penney.

The former Rotherham striker has been in excellent form for the Spotland side this season, scoring eight goals in 19 matches to help push Keith Hill’s men to the top of the Coca-Cola League Two table.

O’Grady hinted this week that he would like to stay with Rochdale in a bid to continue a promising partnership with Chris Dagnall and guide the side to a first promotion in 40 years.

But with Athletic desperate for goals in the continued absence of top scorer Pawel Abbott — there is also the possibility that Paul Heffernan won’t make it past a dead leg to play against Exeter tomorrow — Penney was unequivocal when asked about O’Grady’s situation, ahead of his loan deal expiring on January 16.

“Chris will be coming back, that is for sure,” said Penney, whose side have managed to score only once against 11 men in the last six home matches. “We will assess what we are going to do when we get to January and see where we are at. But certainly at the moment, Chris will be returning.”

The situation over the availability or otherwise of Heffernan – the on-loan striker was withdrawn just after half-time at Norwich last week – will be decided in training today.

Alex Marrow is back in the squad after suspension as Athletic seek a win which could take them as high as 13th in the League One table, jumping above Exeter in the process.

Athletic will have to do without right-back Andy Holdsworth, who had an operation yesterday in a bid to cure tendonitis in his knee. He faces between two and six months out.

Penney stopped short of describing the game as a must-win, though he accepted his team are entering a crucial period.

“It is a very tight league and if you look up to halfway there is only a couple of points in it,” he added.

“It is important we do pick points up. There are a lot of games coming at us quickly, particularly around Christmas, and we have four very winnable games here now so we are looking forward to those.

“Exeter are one of the teams round about us, so it important we pick points up against them.”

Athletic (from): Flahavan, Lomax, Gregan, Jacobson, Black, Smalley, Stephens, Furman, Whitaker, Colbeck, Heffernan, Brill, McKerr, Lee, Rowney, Parker, Brooke, Blackman, Marrow.

Exeter (probable): Marriott; Duffy, Taylor, Seaborne, Golbourne; Russell, Cozic, Harley; Corr, Fleetwood, Stewart. Subs (from): Jones, Tully, Edwards, Sercombe, Logan, Dunne, Stansfield, Archibald-Henville.


ATHLETIC’S away match at Swindon Town, postponed from its original date due to the Robins’ continued participation in the FA Cup, has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 9 (7.45pm).