Go for goals!

ATHLETIC’S Jack Truelove fires in a cross against Stirling Albion.

MANAGER DARREN Kelly wants Athletic to continue to hit the goal trail against a higher class of opponent tomorrow night.

Having returned home from Stirling after a five and a half hour coach trip on Saturday, the squad was today back in training to unlock the defence of Bolton at SportsDirect.com Park in the first home friendly of pre-season tomorrow night (7.45pm).

The week in Scotland was rounded off by a 5-0 win at Stirling Albion, two days after firing a blank in a 1-0 defeat to St Mirren.

Kelly knows the meeting with the Championship side will raise the bar considerably, but is concentrating on his own team’s approach.

“Bolton are a division above us and we know the sort of quality manager Neil Lennon has available to him and what he;s about,” Kelly said.

“Exactly the same as at Stirling Albion, work ethic has to be key. It’s about players applying themselves. It will be a great challenge to go up against not necessarily better players, but players from the division above.”

The week-long stay at the sports-centric campus of Stirling University has, Kelly argues, had the positive impact: “We found out what personnel are like both and off the training ground. They have been absolutely fantastic. They are buying into what I am trying to bring and you can see that on the pitch.”

On-trial forward Alen Ploj, a late addition to the training camp, scored two goals against Albion but with stiff competition up front may not have done enough to earn a contract.

Former Blackburn and Dundee United man Gavin Gunning remains as a prime possibility, provided he proves his fitness and a deal can be done.

“I like Gavin a lot and he is the type of presence we need,” Kelly said. “There will be discussions to see how that goes forward.”

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_