Mills is loving life at Latics

MILLS AND BOOM . . . Joseph Mills has made his mark since joining Athletic on loan from Burnley.

LOAN defender Joseph Mills has revealed that he would happily stay with Athletic for the maximum amount of time allowed under his emergency agreement.

The 23-year-old former England under-17 and 18 international joined Athletic from Championship leaders Burnley on a one-month loan deal and is now into his second month.

He would have no qualms about extending the agreement to a third month if his manager agrees.

Former Southampton left-back Mills went to Burnley from Reading in the summer after impressing during a Turf Moor loan spell last season, but wasn’t being selected and was keen to join Athletic.

Now that he has settled in at Boundary Park, he said: “I’m enjoying Oldham, but most importantly I’m enjoying playing games.

“Getting the feel of a match atmosphere on a Saturday has been great, and all the lads and the staff have been very welcoming. That has helped me come on in leaps and bounds.

“If I do end up staying for a third month then great.”

Mills, who has shone in his eight Athletic appearances so far, is another who feels Athletic haven’t had the breaks they deserve.

He reckons this weekend’s opponents, Leyton Orient, can be beaten despite a superb start that has put them at the top of the division.

Mills added: “If you look at the division there are teams up at the top you might not expect to be, and vice versa down at the bottom.

“It is very tight, in my opinion. Orient are well-drilled, but if we can impose our game on them from the start and really get at them, we can bring their unbeaten run to an end.”