Our lads raring to go

Latics’ assistant manager writes every Friday for Chron Sport
A WINTER break is something that has to be looked into very carefully.

In terms of League One clubs, I would struggle to see how and where you could possibly fit it into the season.

The amount of teams in the division means a lot of matches as it is. Then you have clubs who are not only competing for league points but also in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and the FA Cup at this stage of the season.

Higher up the football pyramid, the idea of a winter break could work and I am sure that if there was the will there to commit to it, then it could be accommodated.

It is something the FA need to look at — but there are other problems with it, too.

Where would you position it in the calendar? The big freeze has come unusually early this year and you can't legislate for nature.

In Scotland they have a winter break just after New Year. But they are now already two games behind and face a fixture pile-up.

Because of the weather we have again been forced indoors this week.

We spent a few days on indoor five-a-side pitches, but while that is fine for a short spell, we felt we needed to change things round a little to get the players off the hard surfaces.

Dicky's connections with Ricky Hatton helped in that regard. Ricky was kind enough to let us use his gym one morning this week and we took the lads down there to do some cardiovascular work and also some boxing.

A change is as good as a rest and it really was something different.

Obviously it is not ideal not to be outdoors, but our hands are tied at present.

While we haven't played since the Rochdale game two weeks ago, Swindon have been in action twice recently and I think that will help their cause.

They are maintaining their match fitness, while ours will have tailed off.

Then again, we are entering the game in a fresh state so hopefully things will even themselves out.

When January arrives it will be a busy time at the club when it comes to looking at loan deals.

For us, the work is constantly ongoing.

We don't just bring in loan players, sit back and think that we are alright for now — let's get the ball rolling again when there are two days left on the deal.

We are always looking at players who could come in and replace the loan players if we can't keep them on, for example if their parent club wants them back. It is something that never stops.

We are on the ball with it and the lads who have come in on loan have been fantastic.

Both Cedric Evina and Aidy White have contributed to the team effort and both have found themselves on the score sheet.

Whether they end up staying on is for their parent clubs to decide first, and then us.