Latics have signed goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard on non-contract forms to provide additional cover between the sticks.

Manager Paul Dickov took the decision to register Gerrard (pictured during his playing days at Boundary Park)  as a player due to senior player Greg Fleming being out for several months through a serious knee injury.

Young professional Josh Ollerenshaw has been providing cover on the bench but, with the transfer window due to shut at the end of month, Dickov is keen to have further back up.

"Josh has been doing well, but signing Paul provides additional cover and also experience just in case we were to suffer another injury," explained the Latics manager.

Gerrard (37) was signed on similar forms last season at Stockport County, though he was not pressed into action during the 2009/10 season.

The signing of Gerrard is a throw back to Latics' glorious past as he made his first-team debut as a teenager in the Premier League.

Gerrard made 136 first-team appearances for Latics before being transferred to Everton in a £1million deal in 1996.