Anything is possible - Gary

Latics have been handed the long trip south for their first game back in the second tier following the League One title-winning success of last term.

Despite ending the season with silverware, Latics didn’t get off to the best start as they put in a dismal performance in crashing 2-0 at Coventry.

But Caldwell and his players will be champing at the bit to start on a much more positive note, and maintain their momentum with which they finished last season.

“Everyone starts on zero, and you all have the opportunity to achieve everything you want to achieve,” he told the Evening Post.

“We’re no different, we want to keep aiming high and keep progressing as a club, and the start of season always bring that excitement to go and achieve again.

“We obviously want a more positive result than this time last year at Coventry.

“But that game at least showed us that the opening day has no bearing on the season as a whole.

“It’s where you finish that matters, but we still want to start as we mean to go on, give a good account of ourselves, and give us a positive result to kick off with.”

Latics endured a patchy pre-season, with only two wins from eight matches.

Caldwell, though, is adamant the warm-up programme has served its overall purpose.

“I think we’re ready,” he insisted. “Pre-season games are never ones that players, managers, fans look forward to.

“There is a need for that competitive edge, and that only comes with league games.

“Overall, though, I am pleased with the preparations.

“We’ve done a lot harder work than last year.

“There’s obviously been a few hiccups along the way, in terms of the injuries that we had no control over.

“But all in all we’re looking forward to the start of the season.”

Despite signing seven players over the summer, Caldwell has a major selection headache ahead of this afternoon’s opener, with strikers Will Grigg and Craig Davies, midfielder Emyr Huws and defender Donervon Daniels all battling injuries picked up in recent weeks.

And the Latics boss admits he is still hoping to bring in ‘a few’ new faces this month.

“I still believe we need more, I still believe the depth of the squad needs to improve in certain areas,” he added.

“And I’m sure we will do before the end of the transfer window.”