Forward makes his mark

Latics ponder Parker move

ATHLETIC, who hope to make another couple of signings this week, could make a move for rookie forward Josh Parker.

The former Queens Park Rangers player (20), who has made four appearances for the npower Championship side, has been on trial with the club recently and has impressed — though Athletic manager Paul Dickov stressed that no deal has yet been discussed.

“Josh has come to us from QPR highly recommended,” said Dickov, speaking ahead of today’s behind-closed-doors friendly at Wigan.

“We thought we would have a look at him and he has done well so far, though as-yet there is nothing in place.

“What Josh has is raw pace, which is something we are lacking.”

Parker had spells out on loan in League Two at Northampton and Wycombe last season and is currently away with the Antigua squad, though he is expected to resume his trial at Boundary Park next week.

As with all those currently on trial with Athletic, Dickov is keen to land the right character as much as the right player.

“With some of the players who came in after successful trials last season, once a deal is put in place they relax and enter the comfort zone,” Dickov added. “We don’t want that.”

Elsewhere on the striker front, DJ Bembo has given the club a boost by resuming full training with the first team.

Bembo dislocated an ankle and also suffered ligament damage in September of last year and a recent comeback in the reserves was scuppered by enduring pain in the area in which he had surgery.

A further operation to remove a screw in his ankle was needed, from which the Kinshasa-born player has now recovered.




ATHLETIC are hosting an open training session at Boundary Park on Friday, July 29, with fans invited to attend from 10.30am to noon.