Mallik Wilks is reportedly set to join Grimsby Town on loan. The League Two club apparently made a last-minute pitch and landed the young Leeds United striker on loan instead of Carlisle United, who almost had a deal completed for him.
Mallik Wilks to Carlisle is off - Grimsby have come in for him and he’s going there on loan instead. Due to be finalised tomorrow. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) January 25, 2018
Grimsby Town have lost four of their last five and while the club is currently in 16th in the League Two table, they have a rather ugly -11 goal differential. Their 35 points is nine points away from the relegation zone, meaning they should be safe, but they appear to be a club in the need of a goal-scoring threat. Sam Jones is the club’s top scorer with six goals, followed by Mitch Rose with five goals.
Wilks scored five goals for Accrington Stanley in mainly a reserve role, but did get two of his five goals for the club when he got the chance to start as a striker in the EFL Trophy in only four matches. Wilks has a decent goal scoring record, and it looks like he has a chance for regular first-team football at Grimsby Town, which is exactly what the 19 year-old striker needs to progress at this point in his career.
Grimsby also recently signed Sheffield Wednesday keeper Jake Kean on loan as well. Kean was signed by Wednesday after he was released by Norwich City in July of 2016, but he has not made a first-team appearance for Wednesday. He was on-loan at Mansfield Town in 2017.
Hopefully Wilks can get some good experience at the Lincolnshire club and he is able to come back after another loan spell ready to compete for a spot in the first team next season. The club has a number of good prospects coming up through the youth ranks right now, and we’ll all be looking at the Grimsby Town results to see if Wilks bagged a goal or two. MOT