Chief executive Darren Royle of Oldham Athletic believes his team ‘would love’ to have promising forward Josh Stones from Wigan Athletic on a second loan, but his cries are likely to be ignored.
During his brief tenure with the ‘other Latics’ the previous season, the 20-year-old scored three goals in four games before sustaining a foot injury in January that put an end to his campaign.
Stones will be fighting for a starting position at the Brick Community Stadium next season, and Wigan manager Shaun Maloney has already stated that he won’t be sent out again.
In fact, with the departure of seasoned strikers Stephen Humphrys, Josh Magennis, and Charlie Wyke, he is the only striker on the team’s roster at the moment.
Josh Stones is a huge fan of the club and we would be thrilled to have him return, according to Royle. It’s important, but we also need to have a realistic outlook. He is undoubtedly a member of Wigan’s first team roster. They must consider whether he is someone who need games once more.
We would do it if there was any prospect of signing him. We are at that point with it.
Maloney had expressed earlier this week that he would prefer to grow his striking group than lose any more members.
“The No.9 position is an area we’re really looking at,” he stated. Josh Stones had a brief stint in the starting lineup prior to his loan to Oldham, but being our sole No. 9 right now would be a difficult task.
To relieve Josh of that responsibility and compete for the jersey, we may need to sign two No. 9s. We must immediately reinforce that area.”
