Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore/Sean Walsh

Altrincham are absolutely delighted to announce that exciting prospect Lucas Weaver has committed his future to the club by signing a new long-term contract at The J.Davidson Stadium.

The jet-heeled winger's arrival last summer was hailed as a coup after the Robins nipped in and snapped him up ahead of a growing number of other clubs alerted to his remarkable scoring exploits with Colne.

Little wonder there was so much interest in him after he finished the previous season with a total of 42 goals from 43 league and cup appearances, an astonishing statistic for a wide player.

After a couple of loan spells earlier this season with Bamber Bridge and Radcliffe, he broke into Alty's line-up and quickly underlined his unerring eye for goal by repeatedly getting himself into threatening positions with his blistering pace and instinct for a likely opening.

Alty are convinced that Lucas, who turned 23 last month, will develop into a major asset as he gains more experience, and he insisted his sights are now firmly set on helping fire the Robins to a second successive top-seven finish in the Vanarama National League.

"I'm really happy to have signed a new contract," he said. "Altrincham are a fantastic club, I've enjoyed my time here so far, and I'm looking forward to kicking on for the rest of this season as we look towards qualifying for the play-offs."

After returning from his spell with Radcliffe, Lucas grabbed his opportunity at Alty with both hands, taking the eye with his rapid acceleration, particularly in the away win over Eastleigh, and heading a late winner against Wolves under-21s in the National League Cup.

Writing in his programme notes the week after the Wolves game, assistant-manager Neil Sorvel said: "It's fair to say a goal had been coming for Lucas when you consider the one-on-ones he had in that game.

"One was from a tight angle, and the keeper made a decent save from another, but he didn't quite get enough curl on the other one he had as it went narrowly wide of the post.

"You've got to take your hat off to him, though - his pace often got him into those positions by leaving a defender trailing and, undeterred, he kept going and continued making life a nightmare for anyone trying to mark him.

"He is an absolute flying machine, a right handful, and there's no doubt he carries a massive threat for us."

Reflecting on the contract breakthrough ahead of tonight's eagerly-awaited National League derby with Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, Alty director of football Marc Tierney said: "I'm delighted to have got the signature of Lucas sorted out to extend his stay with us for up to another three years.

"I'm just really proud of his progression, going out on loan to Bamber Bridge and Radcliffe and coming back with a real determination to get in the first team here.

"He fits the physical profile of the team we want to create and also fits the mould of youth we want to progress. At just turned 23, he is just coming into his prime. He is still learning parts of his game, but he has put in man-of-the-match performances recently and got his goal at home against Wolves.

"He scored a hatful of goals for Bamber Bridge and Radcliffe, so he clearly has an eye for goal.

"He has a lot of pace and power, and he has fitted into the squad really well. I'm looking forward to seeing him continuing to grow and continuing to learn his trade with us.

"It just shows that when lads go out on loan and progress and improve, they then get a chance with our coaches to further improve, and I think Lucas will be a really good addition to our team.

"There was a lot of interest around him, so it is good to get him signed and sealed for up to the next three years.

"It shows he is happy to be with us, playing the way we do, playing our good football, as part of our promotion-chasing team."

Meanwhile, young central midfielder Owen German is heading for a loan spell with an Alfreton side who are just seven points off the play-off places in the National League North to gain more valuable first-team experience.