DINO Maamria is pleased to see his squad getting healthier by the week and is confident that will only help them improve further.

Latics welcomed back captain David Wheater for the 1-0 win at Newport County on Saturday, the Redcar Rock having not played since the draw with Northampton at the start of the month due to a back injury.

Match-winner Zak Mills made it back-to-back 90 minutes after a spell on the sidelines while Christopher Missilou and Desire Segbe Azankpo were also back in the starting line-up at Rodney Parade.

Johan Branger-Engone has not featured since the end of September and remains a long-term absentee with Tomas Egert having been missing since going off the in the FA Cup win at Gateshead.

Next up this Saturday is the second-round tie at home to Burton Albion, with Maamria eyeing further improvements from his side who are still down in 20th in League Two despite a much-needed three points in South Wales at the weekend.

“It’s good to have Missilou and Wheater back and it’s good to have Zak back as well,” the Latics boss said after seeing his side upset the play-off chasing Exiles. “We’ve still got two or three out and hopefully when we get those lads back in we can be better and stronger for it.”

Maamria saw his side pick up an important victory at Rodney Parade without using a single substitute, Mohamed Maouche and Chris Eagles among those watching on from the bench.

“It was tough, as I kept the rest of the lads warming up but the team as an 11, I couldn’t change it,” he said.

“We were doing well and I didn’t want to upset that.”