Purdie makes Latics debut

Rob Purdie

ROB PURDIE came through his first run-out in an Athletic shirt unscathed as the reserves pipped Rhyl in a 5-4 thriller in North Wales.

Playing alongside another long-term injury victim Andy Holdsworth, utility man Purdie took to the field for the first time since signing for then-boss Dave Penney in May of last year.

Starting the game, Purdie played for 45 minutes last night before being taken off as he works his way up to full fitness following a pelvic and groin problem which has ruined his stay at Boundary Park.

Holdsworth played the full game, switching from full-back into midfield, and shouldn’t be too far away from coming into contention for manager Paul Dickov’s first-team squad.

Athletic went into a three-goal lead at the Belle Vue Stadium midway through the first half with goals from Andrew Crompton, Djeny Bembo-Leta and a trialist full-back.

Second-year scholar Crompton added a second goal early in the second period before John Toner pulled one back for the home side.

Young full-back Connor Hughes then put Athletic 5-1 up with a deflected shot. A late rally, amid a flurry of substitutions made by the visitors, followed which saw Rhyl claim three more goals through Michael Pritchard (two) and Scott Beckett, two of those strikes arriving in injury time.

Goalkeeper Greg Fleming — on the club’s transfer list along with Purdie, Kelvin Lomax, Jon Worthington and Joe Jacobson — had to leave the field midway through the second half with a jarred knee and was replaced by Josh Ollerenshaw, who is now likely to take up a spot on the bench for Saturday’s npower League One opening game away at Tranmere.

Reuben Hazell and Warren Feeney are also expected to be fit to return after overcoming minor pre-season knocks, but one man who definitely won’t be involved is striker Ryan Brooke.

There is as yet no telling how long the 19-year-old will be out for after he suffered a serious ankle injury in the recent friendly against Preston, as the swelling is too severe for an exploratory scan to take place.