'Keeper looking forward to increased competition next season

Mike Pollitt has welcomed the arrival of on-loan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, praising the Bolton stopper's attitude ahead of the new season.

Al Habsi made his debut in Tuesday night's friendly at Oldham playing the first 45-minutes, and Pollitt believes the added competition will help to get the best out of the squad's goalkeepers;

"Another 'keeper joining the ranks with 'Kirky' and myself," said Pollitt.

"I'm a Bolton-lad myself so I know a bit about him already and it's great that he'll be here with us this season - I think nowadays three 'keepers in your squad is the minimum you need.

"I met him the other day and he seems a great lad with the right attitude, wanting to work hard to earn a place in the team.

"Together, along with young Lee Nicholls as well, we'll all work hard to get the very best out of one another."

Pollitt went on to explain how big changes in personnel at the beginning of the season is all 'part and parcel' of being a club with such potential:

"I've been here six years now and there always seems to be a massive turn around at the beginning of each season.

"Part and parcel of being a club like ourselves is that each season you expect plenty of new faces. More often than not the top players get snapped up and you have to start all over again.

"So it's going to be another tough year for us but if we can manage to do what we've done over the last five seasons then hopefully we'll be ok."

Latics' first friendly on home soil ended in a 1-1 draw at Boundary Park, with Pollitt being called into action late in the game to pull off a fine save from Pawel Abbott to keep the scores level.

Overall the 'keeper was happy the team came through the test unscathed and can continue their pre-season programme as scheduled;

"Their lad hit one from about 25-yards and to start with it look quite comfortable until it started swerving all over the place, but I managed to stick my big hand on it and divert it round the post.

"We showed some nice touches and started the second-half a lot better than we did the first. The manager was a bit disappointed at half-time but we got things together after the break before Paul Dickov came on late in the game and started running riot up-front.

"Overall it was an exercise we needed to get under our belts and although results are nice our fitness is the main concern right now.

"The lads have all been back a week or two now, had a good week in Sweden and so far it's going really well. Next up is Austria on Saturday and the chance to get more training done and a bit of game time whilst we're out there as well."