CITY manager Tony Hesketh is trying to sign former Newcastle United number nine David Eatock ahead of Saturday's game at derby rivals Bamber Bridge.

Eatock was leading scorer for Newcastle United reserves last season but was hit by injury. He has been unable to establish himself at Leigh RMI this season. The club already have several experienced centre forwards on their books. City are likely to be without first choice centre forward Neil Morton until towards the end of February. Morton has to undergo an operation on his shin muscle and Hesketh sees Eatock as an ideal replacement.

Hesketh commented: "I talked to David last night and he's keen to stay in football.

"I'm due to talk to his manager later this week. I'm positive he'd do very well here."

Leigh manager Steve Waywell signed Eatock at the beginning of last month but the manager Eatock. was signed by Newcastle by the then manager Kevin Keegan for a fee of £20,000 from Chorley.

Eatock spent the last three seasons at Newcastle before being released in the summer, the Blackrod based striker started the season at Brentford before moving onto Kingstonians, for whom he played on Saturday against Luton in the F.A. Cup.

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