Coasters land loan striker

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League AFC Fylde landed striker Marcus Carver on a month’s loan from League Two Accrington Stanley on Friday.

Providing his paperwork work was completed on time, the 20-year-old hot-shot was due to go straight into their squad to play Stafford Rangers at Marston Road on Saturday. The Premier Division’s injury-ravaged Coasters hope he will add some much needed fire power up front and say they have an option to extend the loan deal until the end of the season.

A product of Stanley’s youth system, Carver made his senior debut in the penultimate game of the 2011-12 season at Bristol Rovers. He’s since had successful loan spells at Marine and Halifax last season and with Barrow in Conference North this term.

Fylde Manager Dave Challinor said: "Marcus is someone who has been on our radar for a long time and I've tried to get him on loan on several occasions in the past two seasons but for one reason or another it hasn't happened. He played against us in the FA Trophy early last season when he was on loan at Marine where he scored nine goals during his month's stay there and quite rightly went back to Accrington as part of their first team squad."

He added: "I spoke to [Accrington Manager] James Beattie and, as expected, there was competition for Marcus' signature but I'm delighted that between the clubs we've been able to sort something out and most importantly Marcus wanted to come to us as he can see what we are trying to achieve. He is a hungry, ambitious young man who I believe has a really bright future. I have no doubt he'll be made to feel extremely welcome and I'm sure he'll hit the ground running."

Fylde Chairman, David Haythornthwaite, added: "It's great to be able to announce some good news at last. Dave's worked tirelessly over the last six weeks trying to get players in but Marcus has always been his number one target for the last twelve months. He is a proven goal scorer at higher levels than this and we are absolutely delighted to have him at Fylde."

See Saturday's Transfer List for the full list of players registered to play in the Evo-Stik NPL since last Sunday.