Shez eyes double fillip

Photo: Alan Howarth

IT'S THERE . . . Brian Wilson (slightly obscured) scores what turned out to be Latics' consolation goal against Bradford.

ATHLETIC will find it "difficult" to nail down a loan deal for Chris Taylor, but remain on the hunt of two players to boost the squad before the transfer window shuts tomorrow.

John Sheridan, who is looking for a left-sided player, declared himself cautious over the chances of bringing back his former star Taylor to the club from Bolton. The 30-year-old wasn't in Bolton's squad as Wanderers saw their automatic promotion hopes take a dip with a 2-1 home loss to 10-man Charlton.

"I don't know if I can make it happen," said Sheridan, after watching his side lose 2-1 at home to Bradford to remain second-bottom of Sky Bet League One. "Chris is a player I have always liked, so if he was available and there was a chance to get him, I would take him all day long.

"Those circumstances are not up to me. There are lots of players I would like who could make us better.

"Chris knows Oldham and he knows me. I wouldn't rule it out, but I think it would be difficult to try to get him."

Sheridan is also hoping to land a busy midfield player on loan before the deadline hits at 11pm tomorrow and appeared to rule out the chances of permanent signings.

Athletic currently have Connor Ripley, Billy Mckay, Lee Erwin and Rob Hunt on loan deals until the end of the season, with a maximum of five loan players allowed in any match day squad.

"We need another two players and obviously, I have to look at loans," added the manager.

"We need a left-sided player and from what I have seen so far of my team, we all think of Matty Palmer, don't we?

"That is what we would love. You don't get them often, but someone like Josh Cullen for Bradford who I thought was excellent in keeping the ball, keeping it ticking over not losing possession and always being in the right place at the right time."

Athletic travel to third-bottom Chesterfield on Saturday in what Sheridan acknowledged is a huge month in the battle to stay up.

"We have to try to win games as quickly as we can," he said. "It was a hard game against Bradford. Even a point would have been good.

"But we lost and there are now 19 games left. We won't beat ourselves up and we move on to the next one."