Sowing the seeds

LUKE WILLIAMS

ATHLETIC manager Lee Johnson says his current trip to Turkey has provided “three or four” young England prospects he may try to acquire for Athletic.

Johnson watched as Peter Taylor’s side was held to a 1-1 draw by Chile in the second group game in the FIFA U20 World Cup.

He also watched England’s opening game, a 2-2 draw with Iraq - and says he will be speaking to the managers of certain individuals to register interest in bringing them to Boundary Park on loan.

Manchester United’s goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Nottingham Forest centre-back Jamaal Lascelles and Middlesbrough striker Luke Williams all appear to be prime candidates.

But deals will have to wait until the eve of the season, Johnson explained: “It is never certain how their individual situations will be a week before the season starts.

“Clubs will want to take a look before deciding who goes out on loan, just as we will with the likes of Glenn Belezika and Danny Gosset.

“All I can do at the moment is sow the seeds. But there are certainly three or four players whose manager I will be speaking to about first refusal.”

Two players Johnson will definitely be keeping a close eye on are trialist strikers, one French and the other Senegalese.



Kirk Miller (20) has signed a new one-year deal to stay on at the club.



ATHLETIC are to face top Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest in a friendly on July 5 at Leigh Sports Village (8pm).