Feeney back at Latics

ALEX CISAK... poised to play in Saturday’s league opener.

WARREN Feeney will return to training with Athletic tomorrow, following the collapse of a proposed move to Plymouth.

A deal fell apart yesterday after the striker had travelled down to Devon for talks.

The problem boiled down to whether the switch to the npower League Two club was to be permanent, or on a loan basis until the end of the season.

Athletic say that their “preferred option” was for the 30-year-old Northern Ireland international to depart permanently rather than on loan, though the player himself says that a season-long loan deal was agreed by all parties until Athletic declared at a late stage they wanted to broker a full transfer instead.

“I tried my hardest to get the deal done and did everything I could,” a disappointed Feeney, whose contract runs until the end of the 2011-12 season, told the Chronicle.

The upshot is that the former Cardiff City striker finds himself back in the first team picture as Athletic gear up for the first League One game of the season at home to Sheffield United.

Another player set to feature in that game is goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

The former Accrington goalie has missed the last three friendlies against Blackpool, Burnley and Fleetwood as a result of a dislocated finger, but is set to take his place between the posts as his manager Paul Dickov aims for a positive start to the campaign.

“I will definitely be fit,” Cisak said. |t is a case of being safe rather than risking making it worse.”

“All the boys are buzzing for the game and we are definitely ready fitness-wise.”

Meanwhile, Athletic say they are “hopeful” of adding new faces to the squad before Saturday’s big kick-off.