White-hot Aidan’s pledge

I’M A BELIEVER . . . Aidan White has maximum confidence in Athletic’s squad.

AIDAN White is happy to commit to the rest of the season with Athletic — but is not yet sure exactly how far he can go with the club.

The Leeds United winger enjoyed a superb start to his loan spell at Boundary Park, firing home his first two goals in senior football — the second of which was a brilliant individual effort against Exeter — before the big freeze struck.

The 19-year-old will definitely stay for tomorrow's clash at Hartlepool and Monday's home derby against Rochdale.

After that, it will come down to whether Leeds manager Simon Grayson elects to call him back as he plots a path to the Premier League.

But White believes Athletic have promotion potential themselves.

"It is a top bunch of lads at the club," said White. "We have a young squad and probably have a fair bit to learn yet.

"But we have done excellently so far and who knows, come the end of the season, where we will be?

"I have really enjoyed it here. It has been great and the manager and everybody at the club has been fantastic with me.

"I have enjoyed the three games I have played and, hopefully, the next two will be on to make it five.

"I will have to speak to Leeds and the manager there, but if it came to it, I would be happy to stay."

Naturally left-footed, White has so far operated on the right wing with on-loan Arsenal wide man Cedric Evina playing on the opposite flank.

The plan is for that to continue, provided deals can be struck allowing the players to stay at the club.

A period of five weeks paying 'dead money' for loan players who can't take to the pitch is as bad a scenario for Athletic as it is the players themselves, who came to Boundary Park to get game-time.

But with the match at Hartlepool likely to go ahead tomorrow, White and the rest of Athletic's band of loan stars should finally get another taste of action as the club bids to once again get involved in the npower League One play-off picture.

"Five weeks without a game has been a bit of a nightmare, but we just crack on with it now," said White, referring to the postponement of matches against Walsall, Swindon, MK Dons, Carlisle and Colchester.

"It is disappointing when you come on loan, only playing three games and having five where you are just sitting it out.

"It is hard, but we are looking forward to Hartlepool now."