Top-flight test for Latics

ATHLETIC have confirmed that Premier League opposition will form part of the upcoming pre-season programme.


Though fans won’t be able to watch the game against manager Paul Dickov's former club Blackburn Rovers — it takes place on Wednesday, July 13, behind closed doors at the club’s Brockhall training ground — the fifth confirmed first-team fixture for next month should provide a testing work-out for Athletic.



Athletic's programme of friendlies, which is set to expand by up to two more games soon, now comprises Barrow (away, Saturday, July 9), Mossley (away, Tuesday, July 12), Blackburn (away, Wednesday, July 13), Blackpool (home, Saturday, July 23) and Burnley (home, Tuesday, July 26).



The npower League One season proper begins on Saturday, August 6.



Dickov is looking at putting in place a similar preparatory programme for his players to that of a year ago.



“We will tweak it in places here and there,” he said.



“We felt it was excellent last year and the feedback we had from players was that it was one of the best pre-seasons they had experienced.



“For the main part we will do things very similarly.”



On the playing front, Athletic’s League One rivals Charlton are set to tie up a deal for Cedric Evina.



The 19-year-old winger or left-back decided against taking up a contract offer to stay at Boundary Park last week as he was looking for a move closer to London.



The Arsenal youth team product made 28 appearances for Athletic in the 2010-11 campaign, scoring twice.