Bradford City striker Chib Chilaka’s month-long loan deal with Avenue comes to an end tomorrow, and he has played just one game so far.
If tomorrow's Evo-Stik Premier Division fixture at Burscough gets the go-ahead, it will double the number of appearances the big forward has made for the Bantams’ cross-city rivals but he could be on his way back to Valley Parade by tea-time.
Avenue manager John Deacey is not hopeful of play tomorrow, and said: “If is a big word!
“I’m not convinced we will get the game played and I’m sick to the back teeth of all the weather and postponements.
“Chib’s initial month is up after tomorrow, so it could be his last chance to play a league game for us.
“We are still working on extending the loan for a second month but we are waiting to hear back from City.”
Chilaka did make an impression in the only game he has featured in as he scored a goal in a 3-1 West Riding County Cup tie win, only to fall foul of the eligibility criteria and see his temporary club kicked out of the competition for fielding him.
He would not have had the chance of more football with his parent club because during the icy blast City have also been inactive for a fortnight, and before that had a free Saturday because of the FA Cup.
Deacey has another signing awaiting his debut and the boss himself is yet to sit in the home dug out at Horsfall Stadium since he returned to replace Simon Collins.
“I’m really miffed by it all but there is nothing you can do," he said.
“The club has done everything possible to get games on but the weather has beaten us.
“You know how serious it is when Premier League games (Blackpool v Manchester United) are being postponed.
“The lads have had a couple of training sessions this week because the roads have been better and they could travel in.”
“That was better than the week before when even the training was disrupted and the temperature is rising so we live in hope.
"We have Brett Renshaw waiting to make his second debut for the club. I signed him a couple of days after the cup-tie at Eccleshill and we haven’t played since.
"That was Chib’s only game so far but I hope it won’t be his last."
Deacey has another player lined up to join the club but he cannot do the deal until after the weekend.
It is thought to be another striker but Deacey is still working hard on extending Chilaka’s loan spell.
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