As the countdown to the new npower League One campaign continues, Latics manager Paul Dickov has issued a rally call to his players as they prepare for their next-to-last pre-season friendly tonight at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Dickov, excited at the prospect of his managerial debut at Tranmere on Saturday week, said: "It's only 10 days to the start of the season and we should all be looking to raise our standards.

"We have two hard games left here at Boundary Park against Bolton tonight and Preston on Saturday.

"In fairness to the boys they have stood up to every test so far, notably against Burnley and Wigan, when they did ever so well.

"The last two games are still about fitness and preparing for the Tranmere match a week on Saturday, though the players should now be striving to lift their games to a higher level in readiness for Tranmere."

Bolton, who recently returned from a three-match tour of North America, are expected to field their full squad which also turned out on Saturday when they drew 1-1 at Rochdale.

They might even give a run out to 19-year-old defender Marcos Alonso who completed his transfer from Real Madrid yesterday.

Alonso is the third generation of a footballing dynasty as his father played for Barcelona and grandfather won the European Cup five times with Real Madrid during their golden era in the 1950's and 60's.

Bolton have also made another high-profile signing this summer, Manchester City's Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov.