Words John Edwards | Pictures Noah Shulman-Miller

Phil Parkinson has significantly bolstered Altrincham's attacking firepower after landing livewire striker Jake Bickerstaff on loan from Wrexham for the rest of the calendar year.

The 22-year old Liverpool-born frontrunner arrives at The J.Davidson Stadium with a reputation as a clinical finisher and has signed in time for Alty's blockbuster derby at home to Oldham Athletic in the Vanarama National League tomorrow afternoon.

It's a timely breakthrough for Alty boss Phil after a year-long pursuit of a forward who is fresh from hammering home a hat-trick for Wrexham Reserves against Stoke City and who will be hoping to show the same free-scoring form for the Robins for the next four-and-a-half months after agreeing a loan that will run until the middle of January.

"I'm delighted to finally get Jake over the line and be able to welcome him to the club," said Phil. "I was chasing him last season and then again over the summer, so it's great to finally get him in the building.

"He has all the attributes Alty fans have come to expect to see in a forward we would archetypically recruit, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action for us."

Jake started out as a junior at Wrexham but then had a couple of years in Liverpool's Academy before returning to The Racecourse in 2017 and signing his first professional contract there in the summer of 2020.

He made his senior debut for Wrexham on the opening day of the 2020-21 season, going on as a substitute against Boreham Wood, and then had loan spells at Caernarfon Town and Nantwich Town, where he underlined his eye for goal by scoring 10 times in 12 appearances.

After returning from Nantwich, he began to make his mark at a higher lever, as he went on as substitute in an FA Cup fourth round replay against Sheffield United and scored his first league goal for Wrexham in a 4-2 win over Walsall, following up with another goal in a 5-5 draw with Swindon Town three days later.

It was at this time, filling in for the injured Paul Mullin on Wrexham's return to the Football League, that Jake's impact drew praise from Racecourse boss Phil Parkinson, who said: "Jake is a good finisher, a clinical finisher, as he has shown with two goals in his last four appearances.

"He scored a couple of goals in the FA Trophy last year and was eager to get off the mark for us in the league as well, and he has done that. I'm pleased for him.

"I've said all along that we've got to give players an opportunity if they perform, and I thought Jake did really well against Wigan Athletic, making some great runs and showing what he is about."

The clinical touch Wrexham's Parky referred to was there for all to see earlier this month when Jake put in a matchwinning performance with a stunning hat-trick to see off Stoke City Reserves at their Clayton Wood training ground.

It followed a loan spell with Accrington Stanley towards the end of last season, when he again looked a Football League-calibre frontrunner over the course of 10 appearances for the League Two club.

But, with the likes of Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Sam Dalby, Jack Marriott and the vastly-experienced Steven Fletcher vying for starting places at The Racecourse, it was felt that Jake's interests and continuing development would be best served by another spell on loan, and everyone at The J.Davidson Stadium is delighted to welcome him to the club and wishes him a successful time in Alty colours.