Thiele is ready for Latics fight

New loan signing Timmy Thiele forces his way into the Blades penalty box.

TIMMY Thiele knows when it comes to the last dozen games of the season, strategy takes a back seat as rutted pitches and flying boots come to the fore.

The 24 year old made his debut for Athletic on loan from Burton in the Sheffield United defeat. At one stage he was clattered to the ground, claiming an elbow to the face to referee Peter Bankes, who was unmoved.

“I competed in the third league in Germany, where it is more tactical, whereas here it is more about fighting,” said the forward, who could feature in tonight’s game against Blackpool.

Thiele, brought in by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Burton last summer, has been borrowed by John Sheridan with the intention not so much of getting in opposing centre-halves’ faces as using his pace by spinning into space behind them.

Though he has only one goal for a Brewers side he has played mainly as a substitute for this term, the idea is that he can boost Athletic’s flagging goals column.

Danny Philliskirk returns to SportsDirect.com Park as an opposition player but remains Athletic’s top scorer with seven goals.

Thiele apart, only Jonathan Forte has found the net - twice - this season.

“Pace is one of my strengths and I come from Germany, so can play football on the ground,” said Thiele.

“I hadn’t trained with the team before Sheffield United, so nobody knew how I make my runs or how I like to play.”