Les Parry wants an extension on Lateef Elford-Alliyu’s loan from West Brom

Feb 4 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE manager Les Parry is ready to ask West Bromwich Albion for the go-ahead to keep Lateef Elford-Alliyu at Prenton Park for a little while longer.

The 18-year-old Nigerian is due to play the final game of a second month on loan to Rovers against Notts County at Prenton Park tomorrow and Parry says he has seen enough of Elford Alliyu’s potential over eight senior appearances to seek an extension of the arrangement.

The youngster, who has been deployed in a wide attacking role, was given a boost by a well taken goal – his second for Tranmere – in the 1-1 draw with Rochdale in midweek.

Parry said: “We certainly want Lateef to stay and he wants to stay – so now we have to approach West Brom and see if we can take him again.

“Lateef has grown into the role while he has been here. He is a slightly different type of attacking player to Dale Jennings. He probably does not have Dale’s spark but he contributes more to a game on an ongoing basis. The pair of them are skilful players who can score us a goal.

“Lateef is on a youth loan which is more flexible than the normal emergency loans.”

Tranmere, disappointed to see two points lost to a 95th minute Rochdale equaliser on Tuesday, won’t want to disappoint their home supporters for a second time in a week. Parry admitted: “We need to be winning our home games.”

He went on:”The goal we conceded to Rochdale should have been a consolation for them, not an equaliser. We had a number of chances to score a second goal and did not take them so the result was our own fault. It was nothing to do with luck, it was poor finishing.”

Rovers expect Ian Goodison to be back at the heart of the defence tomorrow after limping out of the Rochdale game on 75 minutes with an injury. Parry reports Goodison has not aggravated the knee injury that kept him sidelined for three games last month.

“Ian should be okay,” Parry said. “At first I thought he had hurt his knee at first on Tuesday night. I took a massive chance with Ian because our physio, Steve Walker, did not think he was right and I said, yes he is.

“But the injury turned out to be Ian’s calf and maybe some cramp. Ian is one of the few players I would change a winning side for and that is a reflection of how important he is to us.”

Parry added: “Conceding that equaliser so late in Tuesday’s game made it feel like a defeat. I hope that motivates our players because it motivates me. We will be doing an extra bit of work and focusing the lads on approaching the game with a winning mentality.”

Notts County arrive at Prenton Park in the midst of a hectic spell. Paul Ince’s side fought out a 1-1 draw with Premier League giants Manchester City in and FA Cup fourth-round tie at Meadow Lane on Sunday, drew 1-1 at home with Walsall on Wednesday and face a replay with City at East London’s on Sunday, February 20.

Even so Parry believes Ince, who lives on the Wirral, won’t allow his sides to show any fatigue at Prenton Park.

“I think Notts will be whipped up ready for us,” Parry said. “Paul Ince is a local lad and he will be keen to redress what happened at their place in November, when we won 1-0. We defended on our own goal-line for the last half hour and got away with it. He felt – probably quite rightly – that they should have got something out of the game.”

Parry added: “Paul likes his team’s to play the ball out from the back and they have a couple of wide men who can give you problems. They are a decent side and after we beat them in November they went on a good run. We can expect them to play a lot of football and to be a handful up front.”

County’s line-up is likely to include Stephen Derby, a defender on loan from Liverpool.