Joyce will add to Latics belief

Joyce, Manchester United’s Under-21 manager, has been in talks with Latics over the past few days with a view to succeeding Gary Caldwell as boss.

Contrary to reports, he was not at the club’s Training Centre at Euxton on Tuesday, although discussions have progressed to a stage where an appointment is imminent.

In the meantime, Warnock and his colleagues have been training hard ahead of this weekend’s visit of Reading.

And the skipper says Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Cardiff has given everyone an extra spring in their step after a difficult time.

“Hopefully that will add a little bit of belief to the team,” Warnock told the Evening Post.

“We’re a good team – we’re a very good team when we want to be – we just have to believe more when we go forward.

“I think our defensive record – the number of clean sheets we’ve got – has been very strong.

“There’s not too many better than us in the league – we might even be in the top five in that department.

“If we can up our goals scored at the other end, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

Meanwhile, Donervon Daniels returned to full training on Tuesday – 76 days after undergoing surgery on a knee problem.

“Today was a good day,” he tweeted. “Finally back in full training with the boys. Time to build fitness.”

And Will Grigg has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Croatia.

The 25-year-old has missed the last two squad gatherings after becoming a new father.