Wilko is top of my list

WANTED MAN: Conor Wilkinson, pictured during the final game of his loan spell with Athletic

CONOR Wilkinson tops the list of targets as Athletic bid to strengthen the squad before the transfer deadline a week from now.

The teenage striker (19) from Bolton has already enjoyed a promising loan spell this season, signing off on a month-long, seven-game stay by netting the winning goal in a 2-1 home victory over Walsall on October 11.

The rangy forward had been pencilled in for a longer stay with Athletic back then, only for parent club Bolton to recall him. Athletic boss Lee Johnson made no secret about wanting Wilkinson to return but has so far been frustrated..

Johnson has other players in mind should a swoop for Wilkinson not come off. But he remains hopeful new Bolton boss Neil Lennon will allow the player out on loan closer to next Thursday’s cut-off point.

“There are a lot of names being bandied about at the moment as managers try to free space in their squads,” Johnson said. “Ideally, we would like to get Conor Wilkinson back. He is, of course. their player, but we hope that might change when the deadline approaches.”

Another intriguing option for Athletic exists in the shape of on-trial striker Roope Riski. The Finn, whose domestic season with second division outfit Hønefoss has ended, turned out in the reserves’ 4-2 defeat to Morecambe on Monday, setting up one goal and scoring another himself.

The impetus over the striker search has increased with the news that Rhys Turner has again suffered a huge injury blow. The luckless striker, bought last season from Stockport for £20,000, tore a hamstring in a reserves outing this week.

“The poor kid was in tears when he came off the pitch,” said Johnson. “A different part of the hamstring has been torn. We’re trying to get to the bottom of why it keeps happening.”

Genseric Kusunga will not be travelling to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea early next year. The centre-back played for Angola last night in their final qualifying match, a 1-1 draw in Burkina Faso. Angola had to win to stand any chance of making it through the group stage.

Kusunga will be back in training with Athletic this week.