Heat is on in Portugal for Latics

Athletic boss Paul Dickov and his coaching staff will be working the players hard in Portugal

ATHLETIC flew out to Faro airport this morning ahead of a six-day training camp in Portugal which will also feature two matches.

After spending the first day getting used to the hot weather, twice-daily training sessions begin in earnest for the travelling squad tomorrow.

After that, Athletic take on a Portuguese XI on Monday afternoon. League Two club Rotherham United will offer opposition later in the week.

Manager Paul Dickov said; “Some people are talking about it being a jolly-up. I don’t think the players will quite see it that way when we get out there. It is going to be a really good exercise for us.

“We will get some really good, hard training into them and we have a couple of games as well.”

Athletic’s squad is currently supplemented by trialists. Dickov, who is believed to be on the trail of striker Leon Clarke of Charlton if a deal can be struck, is still hunting down players to boost the quality of the squad in key positions — primarily, a forward and centre-back.






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