Alessandra hints at Latics return

Lewis Alessandra: Approaching full fitness.

LEWIS ALESSANDRA has given his manager a nudge with a first-half goal in the reserves’ 3-0 win against Rochdale.

The 21-year-old striker has been injured for almost all of the season after suffering ankle ligament damage while out on loan at Chester City.

The youngster is finally approaching full fitness after an operation and with Athletic struggling badly for goals, could yet get his opportunity.

Alessandra, who came through the youth ranks at Boundary Park, scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United last season to outline his potential.

And his curling shot from the edge of the area will have impressed watching boss Dave Penney.

A place on the bench for Saturday’s vital Coca-Cola League One relegation battle at Exeter City may come too soon for Alessandra, who played the entire match yesterday.

He will more than likley have another run out in the reserves at Morecambe next Wednesday before being considered for a return to first-team duties.

But one man who could come into reckoning this weekend is Jon Worthington.

The vastly experienced former Huddersfield Town player continued on his comeback trail in the reserves’ defeat of Rochdale at Hyde United’s Ewen Fields ground.

The midfielder completed the full 90 minutes in what was his second official comeback game for Lee Duxbury’s team.

Worthington hasn’t played since October 17 when Athletic lost 3-1 at home to Southampton.

Kelvin Lomax, who picked up a slight groin strain in last week’s second-string game against Rochdale — the Spotland outfit won 7-0 on that occasion — was an absentee.

Alessandra’s first-half goal were backed up by further efforts from other young strikers Deane Smalley and Tom Eaves, who will also be in the manager’s thoughts in a make-or break month of fixtures.

Penney is still looking to boost his strikeforce, but time is running out to bring someone in to face the Grecians.

The deadline for emergency loans is noon on Saturday and, although Athletic are working hard, they have so far enjoyed no luck as clubs seem unwilling to let players go out for temporary spells at this stage of the season.