Alessandra signs new deal

Last updated : 17 April 2008 By The Chairman

Lewis Alessandra has signed a new three year deal as he would have been out of contract in the summer. The 19 year old has made good progress this season with ten starts and three appearances as substitute. Alessandra made his debut as a substitute at Huddersfield back in October and he was back in the team for the home game against Carlisle in January but he got an achilles injury which put him out again.

Alan Hardy told Latics World, "We think Lewis has a bright future in the game. We saw that when he had a run of ten consecutive starts this season. He knows that as a striker he needs to score more goals and I am sure that his game will continue to improve and the goals will start to flow."

Alessandra said, "I've always wanted to stay and I'm delighted to sign. I'm glad the manager has put his faith in me for three years. It's a long contract and that gives me that bit of security. I didn't know the length of contract they were going to offer me and obviously it's nice to know the club are backing me with a long-term deal. Now I know I'm in it for three years and I'm very pleased to have signed."

"I'd already been involved in the squad and played a couple of times, but at New Year I didn't realistically think I would make any starts, never mind ten in a row! I could have scored more goals, but overall I think things have gone okay. Now I want to push on and take how I'm playing now and improve it next season. I want to be scoring goals regularly in the first team and keep pushing for a spot up front. I've stepped things up today with a lot of shooting in training and the ankle feels good. I've been doing a lot this week and things seem to be on track."