Latics may turn to loan market

Jon Worthington

ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney could be forced into the loan transfer market as major injury problems continue to plague his squad.

Latest casualty Jon Worthington may be ruled out until the New Year after suffering a serious ankle injury in Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Southampton.

Although the combative midfield man has not broken his ankle, an initial scan has revealed a piece of floating bone in the joint.

And when a further one is carried out after the swelling goes down, it is feared there will also be ligament damage.

Penney said: “It looks as though the injury could be similar to the one Lewis Alessandra is currently out with and Jon will be out until New Year at least. The injury is a big blow.”

Penney is hoping the loss of Worthington will be offset by the returns of Andy Holdsworth and/or Alan Sheehan for Saturday’s match at Brighton in Coca-Cola League One.

Holdsworth (knee) and Sheehan (ankle) are making excellent progress and could be ready for a recall at the Withdean Stadium.

However, Penney has not ruled out a move into the loan market as his squad remains paper thin through injuries.

“I will look at the situation this week to see what bodies we have and whether we have to do something or not,” he said.

Rob Purdie, Joe Jacobson, Deane Smalley, Lewis Alessandra and Worthington are all out medium to long term and last season’s 11-goal star Chris Taylor has had a stop-start campaign due to injury and illness.

Junior supporters club Boundary Blues are running a trip to Brighton on Saturday. Tickets are priced at £17 for members and £31 for non-members which includes coach fare and match ticket.

MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson was today launching a search for a new manager after reluctantly relieving Gareth Southgate of his duties.

Gibson wielded the axe just hours after the Teessiders had ended a run of three successive home defeats with a 2–0 victory over Derby which left them a point off the top of the Coca–Cola Championship table.