The Birmingham-born defender has been around the houses looking for first-team football, but seems to be grabbing his chance at Boundary Park
Former Aston Villa trainee Reuben Hazell seems to be settling in well at Oldham.
The Birmingham-born defender arrived at Boundary Park, initially on a short team deal, in 2007. He left Villa for Tranmere in 1999 before going on loan to Torquay in 2002. After a permanent switch he racked up a couple of seasons at Plainmoor, getting a reputation as an adaptable defender ready and willing to play wherever needed across the backline, but spending the 2004/05 season closer to home at fourth-tier Kidderminster proved ill-fated: he was injured in pre-season, never made the first team and Harriers were relegated.
Settling again at Chesterfield, he put in two seasons for the Spireites before John Sheridan took him to Boundary Park, initially on two successive one-month contracts before a two-year deal. Hazell was a virtual ever-present thereafter, making his debut against Southend in a 1-0 home defeat in mid-September and shining in Oldham’s defeat of Leeds on New Year’s Day, scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-1 victory. The powerful defender will be hoping to build on his promising start in the North West.