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Pool link adds double cover for Town
Ashley Eastham and (below) Tom Barkhuizen have come on loan from Blackpool
LOAN signings Tom Barkhuizen and Ashley Eastham, both recruited from Blackpool, go straight into the Fleetwood Town squad to face Aldershot at Highbury tomorrow.
Town manager Micky Mellon explained that Barkhuizen had been signed on loan until January with a specific brief.
He said: “We are delighted to get him – we have looked at different players so far this season to play on the right-hand side for us, and it hasn’t quite looked right.
“That’s why we have signed Tom, because he will give us the pace and ability on that side of the field that we have been looking for.
“I have known him since I first saw him play for Blackpool as a 15-year-old, and he came to my attention then, and I have followed his progress ever since – and, of course, you don’t forget someone with a name like that!
“He played for Hereford on loan last season and did terrifically well for them, scoring 11 goals in 32 games for a team that got relegated.
“We have always had good reviews about him, and I have to thank Ian Holloway for letting him and Ashley Eastham join us.”
Eastham has had spells on loan with Cheltenham, Carlisle and Bury.
Mellon said: “Ashley played League One football last season and he is someone who has always impressed us.
“We needed an extra defender, and we are pleased that Ian and Steve Thompson at Blackpool helped to make it happen because there are good relations between the two clubs.”
Mellon reports no injury worries for the visit of Dean Holdsworth’s Shots tomorrow.
Aldershot have lost their last two matches, including their most recent encounter with Cheltenham.
While that was happening, Fleetwood were registering an historic first win as a Football League club away to Burton Albion.
Mellon said: “It was good to get our first goal, our first away win and our second clean sheet.”
But the Town boss is quick to point out that it is very much a case of work in progress.
He said: “There were some people who said that they expected us to keep going up the league, but it just doesn’t happen like that, and it is a huge step-up from the Blue Square Bet Conference Premier League.
“We are playing against teams who have been performing as a unit for some time – we are a different team from last season and we are gelling all the time.”
Fleetwood are expecting a tough battle tomorrow against a strong, physical Aldershot team.
With the transfer deadline due to expire at 11pm tonight, Mellon was not expecting any further arrivals, but there could be further departures after Ryan Crowther’s return to Hyde on loan and Richie Allen going back to AFC Fylde, also on loan.
Click here to see Town’s results, upcoming fixtures and their position in the table.
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Weather for Fleetwood
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
