Oldham appears to have been the move Jack Byrne's career so badly needed. Bereft of first-team football following a loan spell at Blackburn and then a permanent move from Man City to Wigan in January, the 21-year-old's career was listing. The promise shown while playing with Cambuur in the Eredivisie was beginning to dissipate.
Alienated at Wigan, Byrne joined Oldham on loan at the end of August. He has since flourished at the League One side. Even the departure of John Sheridan as manager - the former Ireland international brought Byrne to the club - has failed to affect his improvement.
On Tuesday night, Byrne scored the fourth and fifth goals of his Oldham career in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Checkatrade Trophy. Oldham beat Newcastle United's U21s 4-1 with the goals coming from Byrne and his fellow Dubliner Eoin Doyle.
On Sky Sports News, Byrne's performance was the subject of one of the most breathless match reports the station has surely ever seen.
