Latics target striker cover

ATHLETIC are targeting short-term striking cover to tide them over their injury troubles.

Manager Dave Penney is understood to be keen to bring in a front player to provide added competition for forward places.

The Athletic chief has a number of players on his radar, including one who has considerable Premier League experience.

A lack of goals has been a worry for Athletic in the early part of the campaign.

And their plight has not been helped by injuries to front men as Nick Blackman, Deane Smalley and Lewis Alessandra are currently ruled out while Pawel Abbott is playing despite needing a hernia operation.

Athletic’s striking options are further reduced by Chris O’Grady being out on loan at Rochdale.

Northern Ireland have put Athletic teenager Phillip McGrath on stand-by for their UEFA under-19 championship qualifying round tournament in Bosnia/Herzegovina.

They have matches against Bulgaria, Iceland and Bosnia/Herzegovina between October 7/12.

McGrath has featured in two first-team matches this season as a non-playing substitute against Brentford and Accrington Stanley.

Athletic reserves were beaten 3-1 by Carlisle in the totesport.com League at Hyde last night.

Carlisle, whose side included former Eire international Graham Kavanagh and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, were too strong for Athletic, who had no senior players in their line-up.

Young professionals Paul Black, Ryan Brooke and Chris Rowney were their most experienced players in their side.

Conor Tinnion gave Carlisle a 1-0 interval lead, but McGrath equalised for Athletic early in the second period before goals from Kavanagh and Ryan Bowman, the latter in stoppage time, sealed victory.


ROCHDALE manager Keith Hill has denied suggestions he is on the verge of a move to Rotherham as replacement for Mark Robins - now at Barnsley.