Latics receive Black scan results

PAUL Black is set to be missing from Athletic’s line-up for between four and six weeks.

The results of a scan are back and the good news for Athletic is that the slight tear in his groin is not related to the double-hernia operation the 21-year-old had during the summer.

With Bradley Diallo out for three matches due to suspension, David Mellor — who impressed at left-back for the reserves in a 5-2 win at Wrexham yesterday — is in pole position to take up the same role for the visit of Stevenage to Boundary Park on Saturday.

That is, unless manager Paul Dickov decides to bring in a player on loan.

While keeping quiet on that possibility, Dickov did state that some of the fringe squad members may depart soon.

“We may see some of the younger players go out on loan,” said Dickov, who was given a nudge by strikers Matt Smith and Ryan Brooke, both of whom scored twice for Lee Duxbury’s second string at the Racecourse Ground with Kirk Millar getting the other.

“With the likes of Matty Carr, Connor Hughes and Kirk Millar to name a few, they need to get some games under their belts."