Breath of fresh air

Liam Kelly (left) with manager Darren Kelly.

LIAM Kelly has hailed his new boss as a rejuvenating influence and wants a flying start to the new season tomorrow at Walsall.

Athletic’s captain, brought in by former manager Lee Johnson on a three-year contract last summer, leads out his side at the Banks’s Stadium to avenge the non-performance at the same venue three and a half months ago.

Scotching rumours over a move, midfield anchor Kelly (25) believes the way Darren Kelly wants his side to play can only aid the bid to get off the mark straight away.

“I am more than happy at Oldham and I think people know more than I do,” said Kelly, who had been linked with a move to link-up with Johnson again at Barnsley. I don’t know where the rumours come from. I like being at Oldham; it’s a fantastic club.

“I have a great relationship with the gaffer and he has been brilliant from the first minute he stepped in at the end of last season, calling in everyone and speaking to them individually.

“Walsall were the better team than us when we played them late last season, though we played well against them when we beat them 2-1.

“We don’t want to start slowly and build into it. We want to hit the ground running at Walsall.”

Tom Bradshaw’s double strike earned the Saddlers a 2-0 victory over a depleted Athletic side in late April. This time Liam Kelly suggests the squad will cope even if injuires are a concern: “We have brought in the extra players — good quality players. If there are injuries, people will slot in.”

Gavin Gunning has added to manager Kelly’s options after signing an initial one-month contract and the former Dundee United playr comes straight into contention for a place.

“Hopefully I can bring a bit of success as long as I am here,.” said Gunning, a member of the side that last week lost 3-1 in a friendly at Carlisle.

“I missed the game against Halifax, then trained only for a day before Carlisle, so I wasn’t feeling great. But with James Wilson being out, I had to play,” he admitted

With Wilson back after injury, Athletic head into tomorrow’s game with a full-strength squad except for new man David Dunn, who is still building his fitness. Loan defender Jonathan Burn could make his debut for the club at centre-back.