Phil Parkinson has significantly bolstered Altrincham's attacking firepower after landing livewire striker Jake Bickerstaff on loan from Wrexham for the rest of the calendar year.
The 22-year old Liverpool-born frontrunner arrives at The J.Davidson Stadium with a reputation as a clinical finisher and has signed in time for today’s blockbuster derby at home to Oldham Athletic in the Vanarama National League, KO 3pm.
Bickerstaff will hope to ignite Alty’s Vanarama National League campaign after a testing start to the season, which has seen the Robins face four of the top six teams in the table in their opening five games.
Phil Parkinson’s men have taken six points from the opening month of the campaign, and they are eager to build momentum with a win against former Premier League outfit, Oldham Athletic.
With 17 appearances in League Two under his belt last season, split between his time at Wrexham and on loan at Accrington Stanley, the 22-year-old’s experience in the Football League will bring an exciting new angle to an already dynamic front line.
Speaking to the club, Parkinson is thrilled that Altrincham have finally managed to agree a deal for the striker, stating: “I'm delighted to finally get Jake over the line and be able to welcome him to the club.
“I was chasing him last season and then again over the summer, so it's great to finally get him in the building.
"He has all the attributes Alty fans have come to expect to see in a forward we would archetypically recruit, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action for us.”
Last season’s visit of the Latics, attracted a season-best attendance of 4,578 supporters.
Chris Conn-Clarke scored the only goal of the game, as the Robins surged towards a fourth-place finish and qualification for the National League play-offs for the first time in the club’s history.
Mickey Mellon’s side go into today’s clash two points ahead of Altrincham, sitting just outside the play-offs, but victory this afternoon would see the Robins leapfrog the Latics.
The home crowd will be crucial in helping Altrincham pick up three points, so get down to the J. Davidson Stadium for what is likely to be a hugely competitive and exciting National League encounter.
