Nardiello boosts Latics front line

ATHLETIC have signed Blackpool striker Daniel Nardiello on loan to the end of the season.

The 27-year-old frontman, who spent his early career at Manchester United, will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s trip to Exeter City in Coca-Cola League One.

Athletic manager Dave Penney has been eager to bolster his firepower and will look to Nardiello to provide much-needed goals in the fight against relegation. He has scored 36 goals in 156 league appearances.

The Welshman was a product of the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy, before joining United in 1999.

He made his Red Devils debut in November 2001 in a Worthington Cup tie against Arsenal and later played in a Champions League game against Israeli side Maccabi Haifa.
Nardiello had loan spells at Swansea and Barnsley, before making the move to Oakwell permanent in 2005. He helped Barnsley, then under former Athletic manager Andy Ritchie, achieve promotion to the Championship via the play-offs in 2006.

He went on to play for a season at QPR in 2007/08, before returning to Barnsley on loan.

The Wales international signed for Blackpool in 2008, but has since had temporary spells at Hartlepool United and more recently Bury, where he scored four goals in six appearances for the League Two promotion-chasers.