Eyes on Premier talent

MIDFIELDER Daniel Johnson was brought in from Premier League side Aston Villa for a loan spell last season.

ATHLETIC could turn back to Premier League youngsters to boost squad options for next season.

Boss Darren Kelly, whose role before getting the Oldham managership was in the academy at top-flight Sunderland, believes there is plenty of quality among young players at big clubs, and has several such talents on his long list.

Athletic have in the past season avoided taking players from the under-21 ranks at premier league clubs - ex-Aston Villa midfield man Daniel Johnson was the only one after the club has little success with a mixed bag of arrivals in 2013-14.

But Kelly says if the right men become available, he isn’t afraid to use them: “I have a lot of contacts from the premier league,” he said. “There’s a lot of excellent players in there.

“We are at the stage with some promising premier league players that they will train with their clubs through pre-season and decisions will be made at the end of the summer. We have to be realistic and say we can’t get all our targets.”

Adam Lockwood, who won’t stay at the club next season, has signed to play for Vanarama National League new boys Guiseley. The 33-year-old centre back turned out for the West Yorkshire side before joining Athletic at the end of the 2013-14 season. Lockwood, who assisted Dean Holden after the departure of Lee Johnson, was offered reduced terms to stay with Oldham but opted to move.