New boss already making his mark

DAVID Dunn took control of training this week - and wasted no time making changes in adding new first-team coach Keith Brown to the staff.

Dunn (35) won’t be shy about attacking the challenge in front of him as he attempts to turn the team’s fortunes round. Here are five key areas for the new manager to examine as he readies the squad this weekend.

KEEPING THEM OUT: Athletic’s scoring problems are well documented. One goal a game isn’t setting the division alight and finding the net once in every 12 shots puts Oldham in the bottom five with Blackpool, Scunthorpe, Southend and Doncaster.

But the bigger issue now is defence: Athletic crumbled badly against Peterborough. Perhaps the absence of Liam Kelly is contributing to the malaise, but individual errors at the back are continually leading to goals. There is a feeling, too, that Athletic simply aren’t physically tough enough at times.

It will be interesting to see if Jonathan Burn comes straight back in after being dropped on Saturday — and which of Brian Wilson, Eoghan O’Connell, Timothee Dieng and Connor Brown will play at right-back...

SMILES BETTER: Arms were extended and fingers pointed on the pitch against Peterborough. When players start to get tetchy and visibly accuse each other, there tend to be bigger problem. Dunn wants his men to express themselves and enjoy their football. There has been more than enough vitriol over the past few weeks; now is the time to pull together and make it enjoyable.

DOMINIC POLEON: With a new manager comes a clean slate and Poleon needs to take advantage and come of age as a professional. Kept out by Darren Kelly — even when the young forward clearly had a point to prove, as last Saturday — the former Chelsea and Leeds man has to continue to state his case for inclusion. There is a lot more to come from Poleon and both club and player need to work to bring it to the fore.

PLAYING ON: There were no caveats when Dunn first arrived at Athletic in late July. He was here to concentrate on playing. “I’m nearly 36 now and you probably feel your body more than ever before,” he said only two weeks ago. “But at the same time I am still someone with loads of enthusiasm. I love playing and that gets you through it.”

The question is, can you be a player-manager in the modern game? Social media, nutrition plans, tactics, scouting the opposition, press conferences, monitoring injuries, reminding certain players to bring their boots to away games... can all this be achieved while concentrating on personal fitness too? There have to be doubts over Dunn doing both roles.

A NEW UNITY: The short era of Darren Kelly has been and gone. It didn’t work out, but this has been a fresh week and with a game at Doncaster on the horizon, minds need to be sharp. The league table is only just starting to take shape and while early season optimism has all but gone, Dunn has a capable set of players.

Winning breeds confidence: Athletic need everyone behind them, including supporters, in a quest for three points on Saturday.