8th August 2000
8th August 2000 STUART THOM could be heading on loan to Scunthorpe United after failing to hold down a first-team place with Athletic. The 23-year-old defender missed most of last season through injury and manager Andy Ritchie is keen for him to get back into league action. Thom, a £40,000 signing from Notts Forest, has been unable to break up Athletic's centre-back trio of Shaun Garnett, Paul Jones and Mark Hotte. With Scott McNiven out injured, his departure for a month or more would leave Athletic with only Ben Futcher as cover at the back. But Ritchie said: "Stuart isn't likely to feature in the side at the start of the season and this would give him a chance to play first-team football. He needs the match practice at the moment and it would also help his fitness."
Thom fractured his toe at the start of last term, but a broken collarbone was the biggest reason for his long absence. Scunthorpe, who were relegated from division two in May, plan to check on his match fitness over the next two days and, all being well, pitch him straight into Saturday's league game at Macclesfield. Other than Thom, Athletic name an unchanged squad for tonight's match against Manchester City at Boundary Park (7.45 kick-off). After beating Leeds on Sunday, they are aiming to complete a six-match unbeaten run in pre-season friendlies. With the league season only four days away, Ritchie is likely to make changes and give his senior players a breather. John Sheridan, Lee Duxbury and Neil Adams could make way, although striker Carlo Corazzin is set to continue after his move from Northampton.
ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, Jones, Garnett, Hotte, Adams, Holt, Duxbury, Sheridan, Rickers, Corazzin, Allott, Dudley, Boshell, Innes, Tipton, Whitehall, Miskelly.
The
much-maligned Robert Taylor wins a recall for City alongside George Weah,
who scored on his debut at Stockport on Saturday. There is also a starting
spot for teenager Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has impressed in his short
bursts pre-season. He will probably operate on the right flank. Manager
Joe Royle will give late fitness checks to Richard Edghill and Danny Tiatto
before finalising his side. Royle is looking to get back to winning ways
after defeats at Burnley and Stockport in the past week.
The
visitors doubled their lead when Alfie Haaland played a measured through-ball
to Weah. Just when it looked as if the Liberian was going to shoot he played
an exquisite back-heel across goal to the unmarked Taylor, who tapped in
from two yards. Kennedy scored the third goal shortly before half-time
but the credit went to Gerard Wiekens, whose defence-splitting pass set
Taylor free. His cross evaded the impressive Shaun Wright-Phillips but
not the Irish international who blasted into an empty net from six yards.
Eight minutes into the second half, Weah provided an inch-perfect pass
for Dickov, one of four half-time substitutions, who timed his run to perfection
before dribbling around Kelly and slotting into the empty net.
BBC
Sport
George
Weah scored his second goal in as many games as he helped Manchester City
to an easy win over Oldham on Tuesday. The former World Footballer of the
Year also created two, with Robert Taylor, Mark Kennedy and Paul Dickov
scoring the other goals. City set the record straight with a far more competent
display following defeats at Stockport and Burnley in the past six days.
Oldham rarely threatened the Premiership side's goal and whenever they
did the City defence, who had shipped four goals at Stockport on Saturday,
were more than a match for the Second Division outfit. City took the lead
after just four minutes when Weah tucked the ball into the far corner of
the net past advancing home goalkeeper Gary Kelly.