Latics seeking goal-den touch

NEW ADDITION . . . Paul Green has signed a one-year deal at SportsDirect.com Park

ATHLETIC embark on the goals trail at Grimsby Town tomorrow, while still hunting down those final pieces of manager Stephen Robinson's jigsaw.

A new striker has been identified to hopefully come in on to compete for a starting spot, adding further to a squad that now contains Paul Green and teenage talent Darius Osei.

Osei is marked as one for the future rather than the present day and the same is true of Kidderminster target Ousmane Fane.

Robinson wants to bring in a winger as well as a striker, but while there has been a setback in the hunt for a wide man from the Championship - at best, that might have to wait until closer in to the start of the season - Athletic's boss is content with the creativity on show ahead of tomorrow's latest summer test at Grimsby.

'CRUISED'

"Looking at the stats, we created 16 attempts to Wigan's 10 the other night and that is against a club that cruised this division last season," Robinson said.

"On Tuesday night, it looked like we weren't a squad containing 15 players who had just met each other, as was literally the case previously.

"All that was missing was goals but at this stage, I am happy that we are making chances.

"We are in the market for more players and we are adding to the squad."

Green, who has played for Doncaster, Derby, Leeds, Ipswich and Rotherham, has signed a one-year deal and Robinson believes his presence in midfield will assist others to play around him.

Osei (18) will today tie up a move from Stalybridge Celtic, having broken through into the first team last season during which time he was taken on loan by Barnsley back in March.

"For managers, players who can organise like Paul Green and Peter Clarke are invaluable," Athletic's manager added.

"That aspect of the game may sometimes get ignored in the stands, but certainly not by managers. He is another brick in the wall for us.

"Darius is a young centre-forward who is still learning his trade, but he is someone we can see potential in. He has good attributes."

TRAINING

Meanwhile, former Athletic trialist Liandro Martis has been training with Manchester United's under-21s and has an offer on the table from Leicester, who he spent the previous week with, as well as Athletic.

Robinson has not given up hope of getting him, though.

"We can't match the money, but we are offering first-team football, which he may not get elsewhere," he said.

As for Fane, the Kidderminster man will play once again for Athletic at Blundell Park tomorrow after impressing against Wigan.

"We need to look to the longer-term as well and he (Fane) fits that bracket," said Robinson. "When I come to leave the club I want it to be in a stronger position moving forward."

Marc Klok (thigh) and Brian Wilson (back) were due back in training today.

AARON Hughes, who had been linked with a move to Athletic, has signed for Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.