Eyes on Enoch

NOW HEAR THIS . . . manager John Sheridan talks to Enoch Andoh before last night's match. PICTURES by ANTHONY MILLER

ATHLETIC are running the rule over former Port Vale winger Enoch Andoh, as manager John Sheridan bids to add the final pieces of his squad ahead of the new season.

Andoh (24), who was linked with Tottenham after bursting onto the scene at Vale Park, has not played a first-team game since October, 2015, when he suffered a serious knee injury only 16 appearances into his Valiants career.

Along with talented wide-man Reagy Ofosu and young German goalkeeper Niklas Bolten, Andoh played in the first half of last night's 1-1 draw at Curzon Ashton.

Bolten stayed on for the second half at the Tameside Stadium, when a well-taken goal from Aaron Amadi-Holloway was levelled by Daniel Shaw for the hosts when Athletic failed to deal with a corner kick.

"Enoch I have liked from when he was at Port Vale before he had a really bad knee injury," said Sheridan. "He is going to come in and train with us.

"BRIGHT"

"The goalkeeper only travelled down on the day of the game and he was bright and alert with his distribution, starting play from the back quickly. He didn't have too much to do but he did okay.

"His pedigree is good and he has been around Borussia Moenchengladbach and Stuttgart without having too much first-team football. He was recommended to us and while I am looking for a goalkeeper, it was an opportunity for him to come in and play."

Sheridan remains on the hunt both for two new goalkeepers and a holding midfielder.

He hopes to have a new shot-stopper in by the time of the trip to Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Mason Fawns (dead leg) and Jamie Stott (twisted ankle) will be monitored before that game, while Dan Gardner, who took a knock to a knee against Swindon last week, could return. Courtney Duffus is set to make his debut at the Wham Stadium, having not trained for a week before his move from Everton to Athletic.

"It is all about having a good work-out and our fitness levels were okay," said Sheridan, reflecting on last night's draw.

"I am not really bothered about the result. Obviously, I like winning and would like us to score a few more goals to get confidence early. Full credit to Curzon, they gave us a good test which is what I am pleased about.

"We created some good opportunities and the main thing is, it's another game under our belt.

"Accrington will be good opponents and then, Girona and Manchester United. We will get stronger and fitter and now's the time I have to start looking at the system we want to play.

"There will still be rustiness at this stage and we are still working and will work on how we are going to play."

ATHLETIC have appointed Richard Cooper as the club's new secretary.

The former head of business services and regulations at the Manchester FA, Cooper previously worked for Ashton United on a voluntary basis.