NORTH WEST rivals Tranmere and Oldham Athletic are ready to introduce new striking recruits with contrasting backgrounds into their respective selection frames when they go head-to-head Prenton Park tomorrow.

Rovers have gone for an emerging young talent in Marvin Sordell, an 18-year-old signed on a month’s loan from Watford this week. Oldham went down the tried and tested route, recruiting the well travelled Jason Price on a short-term loan from Millwall.

The 32-year-old’s career cover spells at Swansea, Brentford, Hull City and Doncaster as well as Tranmere, where he played 54 games between 2001 and 2002, scoring 15 goals.

Both teams are looking for additional firepower to help push them out of the League One relegation places.

Tranmere manager Les Parry, encouraged by his team’s performances in beating Yeovil in the last home outing and taking a point from powerful promotion chasers Charlton Athletic last weekend, may start the afternoon with unchanged line-up and introduce Sordell from the bench later in the game.

Parry is optimistic the youngster has the attributes to make an impact at League One level after making four appearances and scoring one goal for Watford this season.

Parry said: “Marvin is quick, strong and has a keen eye for goal. We first enquired about him a couple of months ago and Watford did not think they wanted to let him out at that time.

“When they contacted us again this week they said they thought it was time for Marvin to up his education by coming out on loan. We jumped at the chance.”

Parry added: “Marvin is a level-headed lad and quite mature for his age. On his first day of training with us he was a little bit quiet. After all, it’s daunting for an 18-year-old to leave home, come to a new club and meet 20 new faces.

“But he was a lot brighter on his second day and when we worked a bit on finishing, his finishing looked top drawer.”

Parry has demonstrated, since taking charge of team affairs in October, that he is prepared to give youngsters the opportunity to show they can cope at first-team level – even in difficult circumstances.

Sordell may have joined a club in the bottom four but confidence is building in the dressing room on the back of a solid run of form that has seen Rovers take 16 points from the last 10 games.

Parry said: “It makes it easier that Marvin is coming into a team playing with confidence. You don’t like to bring young players into a struggling side. Unfortunately, sometimes needs must.

“For instance, Ash Taylor was on the edge of the first-team when we took over in October. The discussion before that was whether he was ready to be put into what, at the time, was a struggling team.

“We bit the bullet, dragged him in and he has been an ever present since. Ash is only 19. It can work. I think the problems can arise if you do it with too many young players at once.”

Oldham will have no such worries about Price, who has more than 400 career games under his belt.

The Welshman was due to make his Oldham debut at Stockport in midweek until a waterlogged pitch at Edgeley Park caused the match to be postponed.

Parry said: “Jason was a fantastic character when he was here. It wasn’t just his contribution in the 90 minutes of the game that was valuable, it was his contribution off the pitch. He was very good in the dressing room.

“To be honest, if we had known Jason was available, had his agents given us a ring, we would have considered bringing him here. He was on the bench for Millwall and we did not really think there was a possibility of taking him.”