Latics boss in striker search

Photo: PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH.

RUNNING GAME . . . Athletic skipper Liam Kelly (right) tries to get ahead of his Colchester opponent in last night’s game.

ATHLETIC are hunting a striker to replace injured target man Jake Cassidy.

A loan swoop for a replacement is on the cards as manager Darren Kelly aims to boost the goal tally following last night's stalemate at Colchester.

While playing down a potential loan swoop for Swansea’s former Nottingham Forest rookie James Demetriou (20), Kelly hinted he has players in mind who could lead the forward line in the absence of Cassidy, who is out for three months with ligament damage and a fracture.

“We are looking at a couple and we will see how it materialises over the next day or two,” said Kelly.

The manager also stonewalled on talk of Mark Yeates heading to Athletic on trial this week.

The former Bradford City winger — who scored the fourth goal in last season's famous 4-2 FA Cup win at Chelsea — is a free agent. “It is something I will know more on in the next day,” said Kelly.

Captain Liam Kelly has given Kelly another headache after coming off in last night’s 0-0 draw. He might have picked up a knee injury. The club’s medical team will know more in the next day or two.

Kelly and his side headed back North last night frustrated with one point rather than three. Athletic arguably had the better of the game in spite of Colchester hitting a post.

“We could have won the game and had a couple of good chances to do that, but it wasn’t to be,” Kelly said. “I was pleased with how we looked defensively. It was just disappointing we couldn’t find that goal.”