Latics: Green for go

GEORGE Green has been backed to get pulses racing among Athletic supporters next season.

The 19-year-old, who two years ago signed for Everton from Bradford City in a deal that could have been worth up to £2million, gave a tantalising taste of his potential in the pre-season friendly at Chester with some useful dribbles from midfield.

In a squad lacking a Jose Baxter or a Gary Harkins character from recent seasons, the maverick talent of Green has the potential to excite at SportsDirect.com Park in 2015-16.

For the man who signed him, Darren Kelly, the key is that he finds a way to integrate Green into his chosen style of play.

Only then, the manager says, will the youngster from Dewsbury once tipped for super-stardom be able to express himself fully.

“George is an exciting player and one I hope that the supporters will appreciate,” Kelly said.

“We feel as well that when he learns the roles and responsibilities we are looking for from him within the team, the fans will see an even better player.

“We will see rustiness generally in these friendly games. That is to be expected.

“Up here in Stirling, we have a lot of time to work on various things.”

Former Tranmere loanee Green is one of four new signings made by Kelly, who has brought in Lee Croft, Jake Cassidy and David Cornell. He is also trying to nail down the capture of on-trial defender Gavin Gunning, who is currently with the rest of the squad in Scotland.

Athletic’s players took in a pool session in Stirling yesterday — see Latics diary on Page 43 — ahead of tonight’s game against St Mirren which takes place behind closed doors.

The squad continue to train at their base at the university up until the culmination of the trip, a game at Stirling Albion on Friday evening (7.30pm kick-off).

SHEFFIELD United’s ex-Athletic midfielder Jose Baxter is free to resume his career after the Football Association handed him a five–month ban for failing a drugs test.

The ban, three months of which is suspended for two years, is effective from when he failed his test in May. Therefore, that two–month live suspension has run its course.

MOSSLEY lost 2-1 against Stalybridge Celtic in their opening pre-season friendly fixture last night.