Double striker blow for Latics

Daniel Nardiello (left): Could be facing a lengthy lay-off.

ATHLETIC will today renew efforts to bring in a striker on loan — after revealing that a deal for a new player was scuppered on the eve of the Leyton Orient match.

A deal for the forward, whose identity is being kept under wraps, was agreed between the clubs only for the player to turn down the switch on Tuesday.

And that blow was compounded by the enforced loss of on-loan Blackpool striker Daniel Nardiello, who was carried off injured in the second half of the Orient win at Boundary Park.

The former Manchester United man has had a scan and the club’s medical staff are awaiting the results amid fears that Nardiello has sustained a torn hamstring which would keep him out of action for at least six weeks.

From possibly having two new front men on board, Penney is currently left once again with limited striking options ahead of the visit of Wycombe to Boundary Park.

One Athletic player who is pressing for a place in that game, at least on the bench, is Ryan Brooke.

The 19-year-old scored for the reserves yesterday in a 2-0 away win at Morecambe.

The goal, off a Tom Eaves cross, put Athletic one up after half-time and the lead was doubled when substitute Kirk Millar fired home from inside the six-yard box with five minutes left.

Midfielder Jon Worthington completed the full 90 minutes for the second team, his second game in two days after coming off the bench for the final two minutes against Orient.

Worthington’s last senior appearance was previously against Southampton in October, when he was carried off the pitch after sustaining an ankle ligaments injury which required reconstructive surgery.

Defender Hasney Aljofree also played the full game for the reserves as Lee Duxbury’s men completed successive wins.

Elsewhere in League One, Jason Price, who left the club earlier this week to return to Millwall, has now joined Carlisle until the end of the season.

The 32-year-old could line up against Athletic when the teams meet at Brunton Park on Saturday, April 17.