Rovers striker signs for season

CURTIS MAIN . . . may be unleashed against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road tonight.

STRIKER Curtis Main has signed a Latics loan deal from Doncaster Rovers until the end of the season.

The 23 year old finalised his emergency move from Oldham’s rivals yesterday - and could play a part in manager John Sheridan's plans against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road tonight.

Main, who has scored one goal for Rovers from 14 appearances this season, started his career with Darlington before moving to Middlesbrough in 2011, where he scored six times in 52 showings, mainly from the substitutes' bench.

Main netted0 10 times for Rovers in his first season in 2014-15, arriving as part of a swap deal that took James Husband to Teesside.

Meanwhile, Anthony Gerrard could be fit to feature in tonight’s crucial battle. The centre back had a precautionary scan on a knee injury yesterday, but the problem is said to have improved.

Sheridan wants his defensive linchpin to take on the challenge at Blackpool (7.45pm kick-off), as Athletic try to haul in their rivals in could be a seven-way fight to leave the bottom four behind.

“He’s still a bit sore and will go for a scan,” Sheridan said of Gerrard. “But he feels better and we will see how he is.”

Performances have been on the up under Sheridan, but one goal in four games illustrates his need for firepower. Tonight’s game isn’t quite a must-win, but Athletic know a defeat would open up an 11-point gap between the clubs.

“We still have teams down there to play and Blackpool are one of them,” Sheridan said. “We play them twice, so if we can gain the points and get closer, the games in hand start to look a bit more beneficial.

Sheridan accepts he might need to tinker tactically to cope with playing on surfaces not as pristine as those at Shrewsbury and Wigan.

“The performances are showing me we can compete with the best sides in the division,” added Sheridan. “Confidence is high and the last two results have been a big plus for us, especially at Wigan.

We have to take that belief into the next games.”