Gillingham game ends loan spell
Joseph Mills' three-month loan with Latics ends following tomorrow's Sky Bet League 1 match at Gillingham.The 24-year-old (pictured) will be returning to parent-club Burnley next week with good memories of his time at Boundary Park.
Mills has made 13 appearances for Latics and it would have been a greater number but for a hamstring strain which has curtailed his playing time in the third month of his loan.
He said: "I have enjoyed my time here and it has been a good experience to get games for Latics.
"The first two months went really well but unfortunately in the last one a hamstring injury hampered me, though I am back playing again.
"Burnley are doing very well in the Championship, which I am pleased about, but that has limited my chances with them. That is why I decided to come here on loan when I was given the opportunity."
Mills cannot move again until the transfer window reopens in January.
He continued: "I shall go back to Burnley, work hard in training and try to catch the eye of the manager.
"First and foremost I want to try and get in or around the first-team squad.
"I will also speak to the manager (Sean Dyche) and then in January reassess the situation."
Mills, who says he will be still be looking out for Latics' results, has enjoyed working with Lee Johnson and Latics' staff and believes the club can achieve success.
He said: "There is a tight-knit group here and everybody is pulling together for one cause which is to try and win promotion from League 1.
"With the quality in the squad, and a bit of luck you need, I cannot see why the team cannot challenge for promotion.
"It is a young squad and it takes time to gel when there are so many new faces here.
"I believe the last couple of results and performances have shown that we have turned the corner and hopefully the team can now push on up the league."