Nardiello set to step straight into team

READY for action: Latics loan signing Daniel Nardiello.

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney is likely to throw new loan signing Daniel Nardiello into tomorrow’s crucial League One basement battle at Exeter.

Signed until the end of the season from Blackpool, the 27-year-old striker is expected to play alongside nine-goal top scorer Pawel Abbott.

That means he would get the nod ahead of another on-loan forward, Jason Price, who - providing he does not pick up an injury this weekend - is likely to have his stay at Boundary Park extended by another month.

A former Manchester United player and scorer of 36 goals in 156 league appearances, Nardiello had a loan spell with League Two promotion contenders Bury before Christmas, finding the back of the net four times in six games.

Said Penney: “We are delighted to have another striker on board, which will give us some different options

“Danny is out of contract in the summer and it gives him the chance to shine here - or for whoever is watching - and earn himself a deal for next season.”

In a clear hint that the striker had been impressing in training and was ready for a place in the starting line-up at Exeter, Penney said: “They are all great in training putting the ball in the back of the net, but it’s what happens when they cross that white line which counts. We will find out on Saturday.”

Athletic certainly need to find goals from somewhere.

They are the division’s lowest scorers with 24 and have failed to score in their last three games, albeit against the top three sides, Colchester, Leeds and Norwich.

However, it was only the Leeds away game which saw Athletic outplayed and the side travel to the south-west tomorrow with a much-needed victory in their sights.

Said Penney: “We don’t go anywhere looking for a draw. We will go there nice and positive and take the game to them.”


ATHLETIC (from): Athletic (from): Brill, Marrow, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson, Smalley, Stephens, Furman, Taylor, Abbott, Price, Flahavan, Aljofree, Lomax, Parker, Lee, Colbeck, Eaves, Brooke, Whitaker, Goodwin, Nardiello.