Joe in a rush to join Latics

JOE COLBECK . . . relishing his new challenge at Boundary Park.

JOE COLBECK can barely believe he is an Athletic player after his deadline-day move from Bradford City.

The 22-year-old winger feared the transfer for an undisclosed fee - sources in Bradford say it is £60,000 - would not be completed.

Colbeck, who has signed a two-year contract, said: “I knew Oldham had been interested in me for some time, but it was only on the final day that I found out it was going to happen.

“It was very rushed and only went through minutes before the deadline so I am lucky to be here.”

Colbeck says he is delighted to be reunited with Dave Penney and Martin Gray, having had a loan spell with them at Darlington the season before last.

“When I played at Darlington my form picked up as soon as I joined them, and I really enjoyed my short time with them,” he said.

“The training was short and sharp which is great when you are a winger as it gets you doing the right things.”

Colbeck had a short spell in the Academy at Leeds United, the team he supported as a lad, but it was his home-city Bradford which gave him his big break.

He made 116 first-team appearances for the Bantams and, though predominantly right-footed, can operate on either flank or even play as a striker.

Colbeck admitted it was a major decision to move on, especially after Bradford offered him a new four-year contract last summer.

He said: “I had a great time at Bradford and enjoyed playing for Stuart McCall so it was a massive wrench to leave.

“Bradford offered me a long-term contract which would have taken me beyond 10 years at the club, but I felt I needed a change.

“It was a big thing to turn it down, especially as I have been on a week-to-week contract since rejecting it.

“Maybe had they offered me a shorter deal I would have accepted, but I didn’t want to commit myself to them for another four years.”

Colbeck’s aim is to prove himself in a higher division, although he did play in League One before Bradford were relegated in 2007.

But he added: “When I played in League One before it was nothing like this season when there are massive teams like Charlton, Norwich, Southampton and Leeds.

“It is a great opportunity for me to show what I can do against teams of that calibre.

“And if I do well, it may show that I can push to be a Championship player.”

Colbeck, who had been at Bradford since the age of 15, says Manchester United star Ryan Giggs is the winger he has always looked up to.

“What a career he has had,” said Colbeck. “If mine is only a small percentage as successful as his has been, I will be very happy.”