Dunn calls ‘The Hitman’

Former boxer Ricky Hatton with Oldham Athletic manager David Dunn.

BOXING clever was the name of the game for Athletic’s squad as the players were put through the wringer at Ricky Hatton’s gym.

With the club’s training pitch waterlogged after heavy rain and with a host of players not in condition to do work on the grass in any case, Athletic manager David Dunn called on ‘The Hitman’ for assistance in providing the squad with something a little bit out of the ordinary this week.

The boxing legend arranged for the players to visit his facility in Hyde, where they were given a tough time.

Dunn — who is good friends with Hatton, the latter posting a picture of them together on twitter — believes that the high-intensity work-out will have sharpened minds as well as bodies.

“After Saturday’s game, half the lads were on recovery anyway and with the pitches being waterlogged due to the weather we asked if we could use the facility and they were kind enough to accept,” said Dunn.

“I go back a long way with quite a few people down at the gym and it was a very useful exercise for us.

“One thing that really does stand out is how hard boxers work. It isn’t just physically, either.

“Sometimes in football, the mental aspect of the game can get overlooked in favour of other things.

“When you do make a mistake as a player, it is about finding the strength to get straight back up off the canvas — you can’t simply go into your shells.”