White-hot Aid in Dagenham

Photo: Alan Howarth

happy days... Aidan White (third left) is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring the only goal of the game against Dagenham.

AIDAN White believes he can offer more for Athletic than he showed at the weekend.

The 19-year-old, on loan from Leeds United and playing wide on the right, scored the winning goal at Dagenham — his first ever in professional football.

A nimble, quick player, the England under-19 international also gave travelling Athletic fans glimpses of the potential his manager and former team-mate Paul Dickov will now try to draw out over the coming weeks.

“I am not the biggest of lads and I want to get the ball to feet and run at people, but it wasn’t the game to do that,” White said after the bruising encounter.

“You have to just grind it out and we showed that we can do that. It was a great team performance.

“It is my first goal and it was a great moment so I am pleased to get it for Oldham.”

Dickov, who also praised the contribution of White’s fellow wide player Cedric Evina at Victoria Road, clearly rates his man highly.

“Aidy has got quality,” Dickov said. “The more games he gets under his belt, the better he will be.

“He is quick and versatile. He can play at full-back or anywhere across the midfield for us and he is a threat because he has raw pace.”

Left-footed White took the place of banned winger Filipe Morais on Saturday and is likely to remain on the right wing for tomorrow’s game against Exeter.

“I am really not that fussed where I play,” White added. “In either position, I feel quite comfortable.

“It is nice to play further up because you do get that opportunity to get forward and get a bit of the glory, but I don’t mind where the manager decides to put me.”