Latics play waiting game over striker

LEE Johnson is happy to play a waiting game when it comes to landing a prime goal scorer.

Left with only Jose Baxter to call upon after the departure of Matt Smith, Robbie Simpson, Dan Taylor and loan duo Chris Iwelumo and Lee Barnard, the Athletic manager reckons holding out on a striker until the eve of the new season could pay dividends.

“I’m going to try to leave that one as late as possible,” he said. “I am finding that players who were on good deals are coming down dramatically in their demands by the week.

“There may well be the chance to bring in someone of real quality. I have other irons in the fire, too. But we want someone who is proven and the plan is that we are biding our time at the moment.”

Two trialists are due to arrive at Athletic soon; one a striker from Tunisia, the other from Switzerland.

“They aren’t just random players,” said Johnson, who wants to start the season with a squad of 20-22 players. “They have pedigree.”