Heed on Luke-out after Hannant exit
GATESHEAD have been hit by the departure of attacking midfielder Luke Hannant ahead of tomorrow’s game at Chester.
The 24-year-old East Anglian has linked up with former Gateshead manager Neil Aspin at Port Vale for a four-figure fee.
The Heed have also installed a 20% sell-on clause for a player signed from Northern League club Team Northumbria in 2016.
Hannant struggled for game time in his first season as a professional but has been one of the Heed’s leading lights this season.
Manager Steve Watson said: “You never want to lose good players, and Hannant has been one of our best players this season.
“Sometimes that is out of my hands – there are not many players here I would not want to keep.
“However, I am realistic. You cannot just keep adding players and expect to keep everybody, although we are under no pressure to sell players.
“Now Macaulay Langstaff and Nyal Bell are back from their loan spells we have seven strikers and the squad needs balancing.”
Hannant signed off with the winning goal in the 2-1 FA Trophy win at Boreham Wood on Tuesday, the need to add to a threadbare midfield now crucial.
Watson added: “I have contacted managers and asked questions about players I think will make a difference for us.
“These players are weighing up their options as they all want to play in the Football League.
“As much as we need bodies, we may have to be patient and see what the rest of the month brings.” Gateshead expect to bring in a teenage forward from a Premier League club on loan today ahead of the trip to Chester. Forward Richard Peniket, who had attracted interest from former club Halifax Town, is out for some time with a fractured cheekbone. Striker Danny Johnson picked up a hamstring injury on Tuesday during the Trophy win in Essex. That took the Tynesiders into the last 16 where they face another long haul to Maidstone United on the first Saturday in February. With no wins in the last six league games, four of them draws, the Heed need to get back to winning ways. Chester are fourth-bottom with just three home wins, Gateshead with just one away defeat since Watson took over in mid-October.
You never want to lose good players, and Hannant has been one of our best players this season Steve Watson