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Shola Ameobi’s time at Wanderers is ticking down – but the veteran striker may yet be given a last hurrah in the FA Cup clash against Eastleigh.
The 34-year-old striker is out of contract in a couple of weeks and looks unlikely to be retained because of the club’s current financial woes.
But with striking options thin on the ground, Neil Lennon looks set to utilise Ameobi’s experience in this weekend’s tricky third round tie.
Emile Heskey remains a doubt with a hamstring problem but Ameobi is now over the groin injury he picked up pre-Christmas against Hull City and has also shrugged off a virus that prevented him from training for most of last week.
Lennon did not risk the former Newcastle United man against Huddersfield but could name him on the bench at the Silverlake Stadium as his side look to avoid a cup upset.
The Wanderers boss is unsure about Ameobi’s future, however, and admitted the choice on whether to keep him would be out of his hands.
“I’m not in a position to make a decision on financial things,” he said. “That will be discussed later on in the week.”
Ameobi has made seven appearances since joining on a free transfer in late October and scored on his debut against Leeds United. But he has not featured in the last five games and has yet to finish on the winning side since signing a short-term contract.
He said back in November that he would be doing “everything he can” to secure a longer deal at the Macron but with all funds currently being diverted towards a tax and VAT bill due on January 18, the Nigeria international cannot be given any guarantees.
Dean Moxey, another player who has been linked heavily with a move elsewhere in the transfer window, has his sights fixed firmly on the upcoming FA Cup clash at Eastleigh.
Wolves and Bristol City have enquired about the experienced full-back, who is arguably Wanderers’ most in-form player at present but Neil Lennon has confirmed that no firm bid has been made by either club for the former Crystal Palace man.
Moxey is no stranger to the South Coast, where he cut his footballing teeth playing for hometown club Exeter City but admits the tie is a walk into the unknown for most at Wanderers.
“We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s more down my neck of the woods too but I’m sure a lot of people will have had to Google where Eastleigh is!
“My old team-mate from Exeter City, Chris Todd, is actually Eastleigh’s manager, so that’ll make things more interesting on the day.
“They’ll fancy their chances of an upset with it being the cup but we need to go down there and be professional with our attitude and get the job done.”
Moxey was part of the Grecians side that claimed a replay against mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2005. Both he and Todd were in the squad for the home tie at St James Park, which was eventually lost 2-0.
The incentive of an extra payday is a formidable one for lower league clubs at this stage of the competition and with his old club Exeter also drawing a plum tie, against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Moxey knows exactly what a difficult task awaits this weekend.
“I’ve been involved in cup upsets before so I know how they will be feeling ahead of this game,” he told the club’s matchday programme. “It’s the one competition where no-one cares which league you are in as anything can happen on the day.
“On the other side of the draw my old team Exeter have done well in terms of drawing Liverpool at home. We were in their shoes last season, obviously, but for them it’s a massive coup and hopefully they’ll be able to get a decent result to pick up some funds.”
Moxey is also just two appearances shy of 400 in his career and should reach the landmark next week when Wanderers travel to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday.
“I certainly feel like I’ve played that many games,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky and it’s nice to say that I’ve been involved in that number of matches.”
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The 34-year-old striker is out of contract in a couple of weeks and looks unlikely to be retained because of the club’s current financial woes.
But with striking options thin on the ground, Neil Lennon looks set to utilise Ameobi’s experience in this weekend’s tricky third round tie.
Emile Heskey remains a doubt with a hamstring problem but Ameobi is now over the groin injury he picked up pre-Christmas against Hull City and has also shrugged off a virus that prevented him from training for most of last week.
Lennon did not risk the former Newcastle United man against Huddersfield but could name him on the bench at the Silverlake Stadium as his side look to avoid a cup upset.
The Wanderers boss is unsure about Ameobi’s future, however, and admitted the choice on whether to keep him would be out of his hands.
“I’m not in a position to make a decision on financial things,” he said. “That will be discussed later on in the week.”
Ameobi has made seven appearances since joining on a free transfer in late October and scored on his debut against Leeds United. But he has not featured in the last five games and has yet to finish on the winning side since signing a short-term contract.
He said back in November that he would be doing “everything he can” to secure a longer deal at the Macron but with all funds currently being diverted towards a tax and VAT bill due on January 18, the Nigeria international cannot be given any guarantees.
Dean Moxey, another player who has been linked heavily with a move elsewhere in the transfer window, has his sights fixed firmly on the upcoming FA Cup clash at Eastleigh.
Wolves and Bristol City have enquired about the experienced full-back, who is arguably Wanderers’ most in-form player at present but Neil Lennon has confirmed that no firm bid has been made by either club for the former Crystal Palace man.
Moxey is no stranger to the South Coast, where he cut his footballing teeth playing for hometown club Exeter City but admits the tie is a walk into the unknown for most at Wanderers.
“We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s more down my neck of the woods too but I’m sure a lot of people will have had to Google where Eastleigh is!
“My old team-mate from Exeter City, Chris Todd, is actually Eastleigh’s manager, so that’ll make things more interesting on the day.
“They’ll fancy their chances of an upset with it being the cup but we need to go down there and be professional with our attitude and get the job done.”
Moxey was part of the Grecians side that claimed a replay against mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2005. Both he and Todd were in the squad for the home tie at St James Park, which was eventually lost 2-0.
The incentive of an extra payday is a formidable one for lower league clubs at this stage of the competition and with his old club Exeter also drawing a plum tie, against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Moxey knows exactly what a difficult task awaits this weekend.
“I’ve been involved in cup upsets before so I know how they will be feeling ahead of this game,” he told the club’s matchday programme. “It’s the one competition where no-one cares which league you are in as anything can happen on the day.
“On the other side of the draw my old team Exeter have done well in terms of drawing Liverpool at home. We were in their shoes last season, obviously, but for them it’s a massive coup and hopefully they’ll be able to get a decent result to pick up some funds.”
Moxey is also just two appearances shy of 400 in his career and should reach the landmark next week when Wanderers travel to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday.
“I certainly feel like I’ve played that many games,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky and it’s nice to say that I’ve been involved in that number of matches.”
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