Yeates to sign Latics deal

WELL DONE, MATE . . . Lee Croft (left) congratulates success

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MARK Yeates is set to add to Athletic’s squad options by signing a deal.

The experienced winger started training with the first team at Chapel Road last week and the Chronicle understands he is expected to sign for at least a month.

Yeates (30) has a wealth of experience at Championship level and has played for Hull, Leicester, Colchester, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Watford. More recently at Bradford, the free agent netted the fourth goal in the club’s shock 4-2 defeat of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup last season.

His impending arrival adds further experience to manager Darren Kelly’s squad. Kelly hopes further business will be done before the transfer window closes on September 1. A major priority is a striker to replace injured target man Jake Cassidy.

“Jake is a big loss and that type of striker is what we need for another striker or the midfield to feed off,” said Kelly.

One player who has not been involved in the last two matchday squads is Gavin Gunning. Rookie George Edmundson took his place on the bench against the Shrews.

Ex-Birmingham centre-back Gunning last played in the 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough and with his temporary deal set to expire early next month, it may be that he parts company with the club.

“I have had a chat with Gavin and will have another with him this week,” Kelly said.

To make room for a stand-in for Cassidy and a possible replacement in the event of Gunning leaving, Athletic will probably lose some players.

No midweek game gives the likes of Joseph Mills time to recover before the trip to Bury on Saturday.

The left-back pulled out of the Shrewsbury game after feeling a tight hamstring when warming up.

Kelly proclaimed himself more than satisfied with the performance of David Dunn, who won the second-half penalty that Liam Kelly converted to hand Athletic the lead.

“Give him time on the ball and he will hurt any team,” Kelly added. “That happened in spells against Shrewsbury. It just would have been nice to get the end product.”