Hotting up for Latics

ATHLETIC’S new-look squad will have to forget any notion of a knees-up in Portugal this summer.

While the July trip for the first-team squad is designed to help knit the players together, manager Paul Dickov will put them through their paces three times a day across the week.

“There will be a lot of new players coming in over the summer,” said Dickov (pictured, right).

“I think for lots of reasons, it will be beneficial for us.

“We have the chance to get the group away and with six nights over there, we can get some really good, intensive training into them.

“I have been over there myself and the facilities are excellent. The company who organise it have done us a fantastic deal as well — I know people talk about us doing this when the playing budget has been cut, but we couldn’t have gone away over here for the same price.

“It was something I looked at when I first took the job here and last year as well.”

Athletic will look to get a couple of matches in while on the six-night camp.

Celtic’s second string will be in the same area at the time and other clubs are also in the process of organising similar trips.

Other friendlies are in the process of being arranged by the club, but none have as-yet been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Zander Diamond could be set for a move back to Scotland.

The former Athletic centre-back is a free agent after Athletic took the decision to terminate his contract due to financial concerns.

The former Aberdeen player is said to be interesting Scottish Premier League club Dundee United, while newly-promoted Ross County are also reportedly keen.