Oldham Athletic are expected to complete the signing of Wigan Athletic forward Josh Stones on a short-term loan deal, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The 20-year-old has struggled for first-team opportunities in League One so far this season, after returning to the club from SPFL side Ross County during the summer after his six-month loan came to an end.
So far this season, Stones has made nine appearances in all competitions under Shaun Maloney but has struggled for consistent minutes due to a large amount of attacking options at his disposal during the campaign so far.
Oldham Athletic will travel to Solihull Moors in the National League this weekend, hoping to continue their march back into playoff contention following their disappointing start to the 2023/24 National League season. A victory could send the club as high as eighth in the table.
The arrival of Stones on loan will further boost Oldham’s attacking options. The club already have the likes of James Norwood, Alex Reid, Kurt Willoughby and Joe Nuttall at their disposal but have often struggled to finish their chances during matches, with the signing being a way for the manager to try and solve that issue.
Wigan Athletic sit 14th in League One heading into their clash against Port Vale this weekend, knowing that a victory could be enough to take the football club into the top half of the standings and closer to the playoff places themselves.
Whether Stones has signed in time to make the trip to Solihull Moors remains to be seen.
Writer’s View
Oldham Athletic have responded brilliantly to their difficult start to the season but still have some work to do if they are to compete for the playoffs this season.
The addition of Stones could make the difference between whether the National League side breaks into the top seven or not and I’m excited to see how he fairs at the club.
