Update on ex-Everton forward Conor McAleny’s Oldham Athletic trial
Trialist Conor McAleny has not joined Oldham Athletic on their pre-season training camp in Scotland.
But the 32-year-old has not made the trip to St Andrews for training and two friendlies – one behind closed doors before their first public friendly on Saturday at Dundee United.
However, The Oldham Times understands that while former Everton youngster McAleny would be free to explore other opportunities, the door has not been closed completely.
McAleny was part of a promising youthful team, including Davis Keillor-Dunn, that was put together by former manager Harry Kewell from August 2020. And he top scored with 21 goals from 46 games in his first season at OL1.
But with Latics a club in crisis under the previous regime at the time, they were largely only able to offer short-term deals, and McAleny moved on a free transfer to Salford the following summer.
However, after four years and 141 appearances, McAleny made the return journey from Moor Lane to Boundary Park with the aim of doing enough to impress manager Micky Mellon to stay and achieve the unfinished business he is understood to feel he has at the club.
A product of Everton’s Academy, McAleny got his first move from Goodison Everton after a succession of loan deals, from 2012 to 2017.
Signed by Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2017, he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Rotherham United on his debut.
It is a pattern that continued at Latics in League Two, scoring on his debut in a 3–0 EFL Cup win over Carlisle United on September 5, 2020.
Oldham are looking to add goals, following the departure of James Norwood at the end of his two-year deal.
