Striker Ishmael Miller is enjoying being back in a footballing environment once again after spending a break away from the game.
Miller, who linked back up with Frankie Bunn in the summer, says that he is relishing the chance to play football on a regular basis once again, but admits his match fitness isn’t quite there yet.
“It's really good to be back and get the body back going, it's the first back to back games I've had in a good two years, so it did take a toll on the body, but there’s nothing better than being back.” He said.
“I thought I was fit at the start of the season, but obviously in the first game I picked up a niggle, so it’s just about getting the body back match fit.”
Not only have the games been difficult for Miller to get back into, but the routine and rigours of training have also been something he has had to get used to again.
“Training is the hardest thing to get your body back into the most when you do it every single day, even if you don’t take the time out it still takes its toll on your body anyway at all levels.” He commented.
“Obviously I'm 31 as well, so training every day can take its toll on your body, so it was the most difficult thing to get back into, but it’s great and I didn’t realise how much I missed it.”
Miller has started the past two fixtures at Swindon Town and Mansfield Town in which Latics pick up two points and two clean sheets.
Miller believes that the club will look back on the two matches as a catalyst for success at the end of the current campaign.
“I think it was a very good test, I was saying to the lads after Tuesday that they were a good team Mansfield.
“I think they had the better of the chances on Tuesday, but at Swindon we did, so sometimes you look back at these games and they’re the ones that get you up because it keeps your momentum going as a team.
“We're a very tough team to beat, we’ve got a great team spirit and you can see from the Colchester game we managed to come back with two goals in five minutes, so it's the mark of a great team spirit.”
Latics take on Carlisle Untied this Saturday with the visitors currently sitting just one point behind Bunn's side.
Miller thinks that Oldham just need to concentrate on themselves rather than other teams to have a successful season.
“I know a few players there, Kelvin Etuhu who was at Man City with me and Hallam Hope, they’ve got some good players and they’ll be quietly confident in what they’re doing.
“I don’t know much about John Sheridan because I haven’t worked with him, but I’ve heard he’s a good manager, so it’ll be a tough game and I'm looking forward to it.
“We've just got to focus on ourselves, if we can do that whilst being full of confidence and being prepared for every game, including Saturday then it'll be a good year.”