Blackpool boss Michael Appleton says it would be ‘silly’ to cut short Rob Apter’s loan stay at Scunthorpe United, but has admitted he will assess all available options in the new year with Football League club’s monitoring the 19 year old’s progress.
Scunthorpe beat off competition from club’s higher up the football pyramid to secure Apter until January and he has played a key role in the Iron’s mini revival, scoring three times in ten appearances in claret and blue.
Appleton told Lancs Live: “He’s done great, he’s scoring goals, he’s getting assists, he’s a fan’s favourite there already. He’s doing really well, we get footage of the games all the time, some of our staff have watched him live and been impressed in terms of his temperament, he’s dealt with the physical side of the game which, to be fair, I didn’t think would ever be a problem,” Appleton said.
“What’s happening with Rob at the moment is brilliant for him and it would be silly for us to stop that sort of continuation and development. So we’ll reassess it in January and see where we’re at and see if he’s capable of going up a level or coming back in and I’ll make that call at that time.”
“I think we’ve got the balance just right with Rob in terms of going to a good football club in the National League, competing at a decent level and he’s proved that he’s more than capable or exceeded the fact that he’s more than capable of playing at that level. He probably does deserve the opportunity, if it comes along, to play in League Two or League One.”
