Let loan rangers ride again

JAMES Wesolowski has implored Athletic’s hierarchy to stretch as hard as possible in order to keep the current squad together.

Nathan Clarke, Tom Adeyemi and Luca Scapuzzi are all reaching the end of their current loan agreements at Boundary Park and the loss of another borrowed player, Robbie Simpson, has already been felt.

Manager Paul Dickov wants to renew the quartet of loan agreements.

But finances may dictate what is possible, with the likes of David Mellor linked with lucrative moves to clubs in higher divisions.

“They have all done very well for us,” said Wesolowski of Athletic’s loan rangers.

“Robbie, Tom, Clarkey and Luca have all brought a different side to our team.

“Especially Robbie, who when in top form, can really hurt teams.

“It has got to be one of the main priorities of the club to keep those loan players.

“Because if we can, then we can do some good things this season.”

The former Leicester City and Peterborough player is a key performer for Athletic, as shown by the statistic that the team has not lost on the last 11 occasions on which he has started a game — barring the Hartlepool defeat on Monday, in which the 24-year-old lasted all of a few seconds before dislocating his shoulder.

Having had injections in the affected area on Wednesday, Wesolowski only has an outside chance of being fit to face Notts County tomorrow.

But he should be ready for the Chesterfield trip two days later — not to mention the long-awaited game against Liverpool, the club he supports.

“It is a lot better, day-after-day,” Wesolowski said of his shoulder.

“I might have to miss Saturday, but hopefully the injections will kick in for the game at Chesterfield.

“It was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. The only thing that could take the pain away was morphine.

“But I went to hospital and they popped it back in. As soon as they did that, it felt better.

“At the time, it runs through your brain that you might miss Liverpool.

“But I am more disappointed about the Notts County game, as the league is important and the one competition we have not being playing too well in.

“We have done well in the cups and that gives the fans something to cheer about. But at the same time, you look back at how the season has gone by how high you have finished in the table.

“We want to be as high as possible. And I think that against Notts County and Chesterfield we need to prove ourselves. Against the top six we have played good football. It is a case of doing the same against sides in the middle and at the bottom of the division.

“We have got Liverpool to look forward to, but before then a good opportunity to pick up six points.”


TICKETS for the FA Cup game at Liverpool have sold out, but fans can still put their names on a stand-by list in case of returns.