Oldham Athletic manager Micky Mellon has admitted that he would like to keep Wigan Athletic loanee Josh Stones following the end of his latest temporary stint with the club.
The 21-year-old joined the Latics in November on a short-term loan which expired yesterday. It was his second spell with the club after a similar deal last season, where he three goals and contributed three assists in just four National League appearances.
His latest drop into the fifth tier has proven to be just as fruitful, with the attacker netting four goals in six outings. Stones’ last appearance for the club saw a 2-1 defeat at Hartlepool United, leaving them fifth in the National League.
Mellon Hoping To Extend Loan
With Oldham looking to end their three year stay in non-league this season, Mellon has admitted that the former Premier League side have attempted to enter into negotiations with Wigan. Speaking to The Oldham Times, the 52-year-old said:
“We’ve been trying to have conversations. He’s Wigan’s player, he’ll go back now and we’ll see what we can do and just move on.”
The report goes on to state that League Two promotion hopefuls Chesterfield are amongst a number of clubs expressing an interest in the youngster.
Oldham Appear To Accept Defeat
The Latics appear to have accepted that a third return for Stones is out of the question. They announced on Monday that they had struck a deal with Tranmere Rovers for striker Sam Taylor, who has headed to Greater Manchester on an initial one-month loan.
The 20-year-old was a part of Oldham’s squad against Hartlepool on New Year’s Day, making his debut as a second half substitute.
Writer’s View
Oldham would love Stones to return to the club. He has shown during his two short spells at Boundary Park that he has an eye for goal, although that will only encourage Wigan to see how he copes at a higher level. Mellon’s words indicate that they are trying their luck more than anything, but a temporary spell in League Two now looks the most likely scenario. In the meantime, the manager will be hoping that Sam Taylor will enjoy a similar impact in the coming weeks.
Head of Writing
