Words John Edwards

Phil Parkinson has bolstered Altrincham's midfield options after completing a loan deal for Salford City prospect Liam Humbles.

The 20-year old arrives with a reputation as an energetic central midfielder with an eye for goal and has signed in time for this afternoon's Vanarama National League encounter with Ebbsfleet United at The J.Davidson Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

In welcoming him to Alty, Robins boss Phil Parkinson said: "I'm really pleased to get Liam in to the club for the next month, as we've got a few knocks and niggles in that midfield area.

"We needed to address that, but it's not easy finding someone of real quality at this point in the season, particularly when the budget is done, so we are extremely grateful to Salford for supporting us in that regard.

"In return, we can help them by giving him the game time he needs to support his progress, just as I'm sure he will help us continue progressing on the pitch.

"He's a high quality player with a degree of experience in League Two after making 10 appearances for Salford last season and one so far this time, as well as a few from the bench.

"We're talking about a player who is really pushing for a place in a League Two club's first team, so we can count ourselves extremely lucky to get him in, and I think he will suit us down to the ground."

Liam started for Salford in our pre-season friendly against the Ammies and was a prominent figure in an entertaining and closely-fought 1-1 draw.

He fired narrowly wide in the 42nd minute and brought the best out of Robins keeper Ethan Ross with another well struck effort on the hour before being part of wholesale changes by the Ammies bench 10 minutes later.

First team coach Alex Bruce summed up his impact by saying: "You want to see players showing energy and enthusiasm in these games, when you're building up to the start of a new season, and we certainly had plenty of that from Liam."

After coming through the youth ranks at Salford, Liam had a loan spell at Nantwich Town from last March until the end of last season.

He had already graduated to Salford's Elite Development squad and made his senior first team debut for them in a 3-0 EFL Trophy defeat to Bolton Wanders in September last year.

A month later, he scored his first goal for the club, hammering an angled stoppage-time drive into the roof of the net to salvage a point for his side in a 2-2 draw with Swindon Town.

This season, he played the full 90 minutes in Salford's opening League Two fixture of the season against Port Vale and went on as a second-half substitute against the same opponents in a Bristol Street Motors Trophy tie a couple of weeks later.

A warm welcome to The J.Davidson Stadium, Liam, and everyone at the club would like to wish you a happy and successful time in Alty colours.