Hilssner could be in line for Latics bow

Date published: 15 January 2021


Latics’ new signing, attacking winger Marcel Hilssner, looks set to make his debut for his new club at Walsall tomorrow.

Snapped up on a loan deal until the end of the season from Sky Bet Championship side Coventry City, 25-year-old German Hilssner initially signed for the Sky Blues in the summer on a three-year deal from SC Paderborn for an undisclosed fee, but is yet to feature for them at first-team level.

Born in Leipzig, he started his professional career at Werder Bremen and has been capped at youth international level, also featuring for Dynamo Dresden and Hansa Rostock in his early career.

Being Kewell’s first addition in the January transfer window, the Latics gaffer is delighted to have another exciting option.

Kewell said: “Marcel is a very talented player who is coming here to prove a point and to show everyone he’s ready to impress in English football.

“He likes to be direct with his play, is powerful and can create chances.

“He’ll give us another option across midfield and I’m excited to see what he can do for us in the second-part of the campaign.”

On his move up North, Hilssner said: “I’m really looking forward to my time here and to help the club finish well.

“I know of Oldham after speaking to Timmy [Thiele] who was here a few years ago on a short loan.

“I’ve not played as much as I would’ve liked since coming to England, but now I’m fitter, stronger and ready to give my all.”

Meanwhile, Kewell has called on his squad to toughen up ahead of the trip to the Midlands tomorrow.

The Aussie clearly wasn’t impressed with his team’s performance in the 3-2 home defeat by Mansfield on Wednesday, admitting to the Chronicle that he was ‘fuming’.

“You have to stand and fight and you have to take responsibility,” added Kewell.

“You can’t just sit here and say ‘yeah that’s another one, another mistake’. It’s unacceptable.

“We’re all working hard behind the scenes – the medical staff, the coaching staff, the owners – we’ve given them everything.

“They’ve just got to show that little bit more fight and give Oldham something back.

“It’s in them, I’ve seen it, we’ve just got to take that little bit more responsibility.”


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