Stephens keen to grab chance

DALE STEPHENS (right): Enjoying a run in the first team.

ATHLETIC may have suffered horribly with injuries this season, but Dale Stephens is one man you won’t hear complaining too loudly about that.

The 20-year-old central midfielder has had to bide his time for an opportunity at the club — a year-and-a-half, in fact — and was sent out on loan to Rochdale earlier this season.

He went on to finally make his first Athletic start in a 2-0 away defeat at Norwich in early December, as a result of a squad pared down to its proverbial bare bones by various ailments.

From that tough induction the former Bury youngster has gone from strength to strength. He has begun every game since, earning plenty of plaudits, including two Chronicle Star Man nominations, for his calm assurance on the ball and accurate passing.

At Wycombe and Hartlepool, Stephens was particularly impressive, creating two of Athletic’s three goals in those games with accurate set-piece deliveries, while neat footwork also earned his side an early penalty at Adams Park.

“It is not nice for anyone to get injured but I think it needed something like that to happen for me to get my chance,” admitted Stephens, who is in the second term of a two-year deal at the club.

“I am grateful to the gaffer that he gave me that chance and hopefully I can give him something back now.

“I feel I had a point to prove anyway. Coming here and not playing, I felt that when I got the chance I needed to take it.

“It is going well at the moment and I want to keep that up and get consistency in my game while carrying on playing.”

Stephens says that he and the rest of the squad can’t wait to get back playing once again following the recent disruptions as a result of poor weather.

“We have had a lack of games but this has been a great week’s training, to be honest,” he added. “I am feeling sharp and ready to go.”

The chances of Stockport County’s Edgeley Park pitch being fit for action on Saturday have yet to improve.

“The covers are on but they are frozen to the pitch,” said a County spokesperson. “We are waiting for the promised thaw but at this stage, it is unplayable.”


ATHLETIC’S postponed home match against Leyton Orient has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 9 (7.45pm kick-off) at Boundary Park.