Latics’ sights on Heffernan

ATHLETIC are likely to make a renewed bid to sign striker Paul Heffernan on loan following two home games in which they failed to score a goal.

The Doncaster Rovers forward, who scored one goal in four games in a one-month loan spell at Athletic earlier this season, is viewed by manager Dave Penney as an ideal attacking partner for Pawel Abbott.

Heffernan returned to Doncaster in order to provide cover up front and the situation at the South Yorkshire club does not appear to have eased since then.

Ironically, Chris O’Grady — the former Athletic striker who recently signed for neighbours Rochdale — continues to bang in the goals for the League Two pacesetters.

O’Grady bagged a hat-trick in Rochdale’s 4-1 win at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Athletic winger Chris Taylor, who suffered a bang on the head during Saturday’s defeat at home to Millwall, had the wound bandaged, but it is not serious and is unlikely to affect his progress following his return from illness and injury.