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WELCOME return: John Sheridan believes Lee Hughes will be like a new signing after missing most of last season
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Setting his stall out
6/ 8/2008
JOHN Sheridan believes his Oldham Athletic team will be among the Coca-Cola League One pacesetters – provided they avoid injuries and inconsistency.
After a sixth-placed finish in his first season, last season saw Sheridan forced to blood several youngsters with as many as 19 players injured at one point of the campaign.
As the manager said on countless occasions during 2007/08, teenagers would be too inconsistent for however many good performances they turned in.
Now, with the likes of Sean Gregan, Andy Liddell, Craig Davies and Lee Hughes ready to boost his squad, Sheridan has laid down the gauntlet.
He said: "I want to push for automatic (promotion). Play-offs would be nice but I feel that if I keep everyone fit and we have consistency in our game, then I think we’ll be up there. There’ll be 10 or 12 other teams saying that, but I think we have a chance if I can get that attitude into the players. I missed players for long periods last year and although the young players got lots of football in, I think experience is a big help. People like Liddell, Gregan, Davies and Hughes, plus one or two others, are like new players. If we can keep them fit, I think they’ll be a big part of where we want to go."
Despite having arguably the biggest and best squad of his three seasons in charge, Sheridan’s side are not one of the teams fancied to put in a title bid.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, Leeds United and Leicester City are the favourites with daylight to the rest of the division. Nevertheless, victories last season at Leeds, Southend and Tranmere have shown what Athletic are capable of.
Sheridan said: "I think, going forward, we’re a team that can excite this season. Last year, defensively, we did very well but it’s about scoring goals and that’s what I want my strikers and midfielders to do."
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