Alessandra eyes return

COMEBACK TRAIL: Lewis Alessandra.

Hopes of landing hitman Heffernan hit a snag

ATHLETIC’S attempts to solve their goalscoring crisis have been handed a boost after Lewis Alessandra announced he is close to making a comeback from a serious ankle injury.

But just as the Boundary Park club were celebrating the news of Alessandra’s imminent return, their bid to lure Paul Heffernan from Doncaster Rovers hit a major snag.

Heffernan, who has been out of favour at the Keepmoat Stadium for most of this season and is Athletic’s main transfer target following a month’s loan spell at Boundary Park, was recalled to the Rovers first team last night for the visit of Middlesbrough.

With fellow striker Dean Shields injured, Heffernan was needed up front and he played the whole 90 minutes of Rovers’ 4-1 Coca-Cola Championship defeat.

The transfer deadline passes next Monday and, unless Doncaster’s casualty list eases, Heffernan is unlikely to be allowed to join Athletic — or any other club.

Alessandra, meanwhile, is on course to return to action for Athletic reserves in their match at Blackpool next Wednesday.

The 20-year-old, who scored a hat-trick for Athletic’s first team against Scunthorpe at Boundary Park last season, damaged ankle ligaments while on loan at Blue Square Premier outfit Chester City in September.

He is set to resume training and hopes to be fit enough to face Blackpool’s second string.

He told Athletic’s website: “I am aiming to play some part in next Wednesday’s game, even if it is only for 15 or 20 minutes, to see how my ankle stands up.

“Even though it will only be a reserve game, it will be more intense and a completely different work-out to training.”

Athletic reflected on at last night’s League One results with mixed emotions.

Gillingham and Brighton, the two clubs immediately above them, were held to draws at Hartlepool and bottom club Stockport, but Tranmere are only a point behind the Boundary Park club following their 2-1 victory at home to Yeovil.




TOM Eaves, who came on as a late substitute against Millwall on Saturday, is in Athletic’s squad for tonight’s reserve-team game at Middlesbrough (7pm).