Hunt relishing Forest test

Athletic defender Rob Hunt is looking forward to tomorrow's tough friendly test against Championship big guns Nottingham Forest.

Frankie Bunn's new-look team have won all three pre-season matches so far this summer, though all have been against non-league outfits.

That's still an undoubted positive for the Boundary Park side, but tomorrow (3pm kick-off) will prove a much strerner test of early credentials ahead of Athletic's tilt at League Two glory next season.

Hunt said. “Nottingham Forrest are a great club with great players.

“But we want to test ourselves against the best players we can before the season starts.

“Obviously if we can perform and do well against a team like them, then why can’t we do it against a team in our league. I’m looking forward to it.”

There have been a number of new faces through the door this summer and Hunt believes the squad are gelling nicely.

“We’re a good group. Anyone who comes in, we’ve always welcomed him,” he added.

“They’re fitting in nice. We’re all gelling well together.

"Hopefully we can keep gelling and progress together.”

Tomorrow will be the first game at Boundary Park since Bunn took over as manager, and it’s something he’s looking forward to.

“I think it should be quite exciting,” Bunn said.

“It’s our first game at home, hopefully the fans in Oldham will come have a look at us, and hopefully it goes well.”

The North Stand and George Hill stands will be open for home supporters, while the Jimmy Frizzell stand will only be open for wheelchair users.

Prices for the game are as follows:

Adults: £10
Over 65: £5
Student (with ID): £5
U21: £5
U18s: £1
U12s: Free (with paying adult)

All admission is via payment on the turnstile - no tickets will be sold in advance.

Meanwhile, Athletic's teenage defender Tom Hamer is being linked with a clutch of clubs much higher up the football pyrmaid.

Everton, Burnley Leeds and Brighton are all said to be closely monitoring the 18-year-old, with bids expected to be made by all four imminently.

Hamer only broke into the Athletic squad at the end of last season and made just nine appearances, but they were enough to alert bigger clubs to his undoubted qualities.

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