Oldham Athletic have not closed the door on a return for Josh Stones, or indeed had it closed on them.

Latics were keen on a reunion with the Wigan Athletic youngster given the impact he had while on loan at Boundary Park last season.

Striker Stones struck up an instant partnership with top scorer James Norwood and scored three goals in four games before his spell was cruelly cut short by an injury that ruled him out for the remainder of last season.

Oldham have not made a secret of their retained interest in the 20-year-old, and for a period in the summer it looked as though a return could be on the cards.

It failed to materialise however, sparking rumours of a fall-out between the two clubs.

There were also reports that Latics had even delayed their team photo just in case Stones signed, but, The Oldham Times understands that this was never the case, with date for the team photo earmarked at least a month beforehand.

It was even suggested that Wigan had pulled the plug on any deal, with Latics accused of flip-flopping between a loan deal and a permanent move. However, The Oldham Times understands that the clubs remain on good terms, with open dialogue, but Wigan wanted to keep hold of their player.

On transfer deadline day Wigan manager Shaun Maloney said: "I know there's been a lot of loan interest in him, but I believe that he has a big future here."

But Latics will continue to monitor the situation.

In the meantime, manager Micky Mellon is relishing being back up to full attacking strength, Latics were short on numbers up front during pre-season and at the start of the new National League campaign with both Norwood and Joe Garner sidelined by long-term injuries. Garner had shoulder surgery in the summer, while Norwood suffered a torn calf muscle on the first day of pre-season training.

The former Barnsley and Tranmere striker returned to action in the August Bank Holiday Monday draw with Gateshead, and scored in his second start in the 1-1 draw at Altrincham.

He doubled his tally at Woking at the weekend having been credited with the second goal in a 3-1 win.

And Garner's return to action in that game, as a 77th minute replacement for Mike Fondop, got Latics back up to full attacking strength.

Manager Micky Mellon is missing a couple of midfield players through injury, but that is an area of the pitch where there is plenty of strength in depth.

Oli Hammond returned to the line-up after missing two games due to international duty with Wales Under 21s, but Harry Charsley is currently sidelined with the groin strain that forced his early exit against Southend in the last home game.

"Harry will be a couple of weeks," said Mellon.

"We're still working on (Norwood's) fitness levels. Joe Garner has come into the squad now but we're still working on his match fitness levels.

"We have to understand they haven't done anything before they've come back into the group but we're building on that fitness, we're taking them out of the sessions that we don't believe they're going to get challenged in and doing some top-up work.

"We're trying to get them up to speed to get more from them."

Josh Kay, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since last month, was expected to return to full training this week.