Josh Lundstram will be returning to his old club earlier than expected after Latics were drawn away to Altrincham in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

Oldham are already scheduled to host Alty this month, in their first National League meeting of the season.

But Latics first have a trip to Moss Lane as they bid to secure their place in the FA Cup first round proper, with the tie taking place on October 14.

Lundstram signed for Latics from Altrincham in the summer, but only made his debut at the weekend after suffering a knee injury in the penultimate pre-season friendly, away to Barrow.

The 24-year-old came off the bench in the 1-1 draw at Wealdstone, following that up by coming through 70 minutes on his full debut at home to Maidenhead on Tuesday night, which also finished 1-1.

And he is keen to make up for lost time.

"It's been a bit of a frustrating time, nine weeks since Barrow, so I was buzzing to get back out there and help the lads," said Lundstram.

"It was a block tackle that tore a bit of a ligament.

"It's been a frustrating one but the physios have been really good with me.

"It's a slow injury really but it takes as long as it takes and you can't rush it. You just have to wait it out.

"They've had to be a bit careful with me because I wanted to get back in straight away. It's one of those injuries that it feels okay but you don't want to push it and go back to square one. We've done it perfectly really and the knee feels great. The next step is getting that full fitness that I had at the end of pre-season that I've lost a little bit.

"But hopefully that's the last of the injuries and I can have a full season ahead now."

And after contributing to the last two of Latics' five-game unbeaten run of Thompson's interim tenure, Lundstram is keen to keep that sequence going, but start turning recent draws into wins ahead of the second of two back-to-back home games, against Dagenham (kick-off 3pm).

"Any game at home we've got to be going for the three points so that's what we'll try and do," he told the club's official website.

"Since Thommo's come in I think he's probably given the lads a lot more confidence and you can maybe see that on the pitch and it's translating into results.

"Everyone can't wait for the games, they've been coming thick and fast and we'll keep trying to pick those points up and climb up the league."

Of the cup draw, caretaker boss Thompson told The Oldham Times: "It's a local derby, we'll have a great following there.

"Everyone looks forward to the cup and having a decent cup run.

"We'll probably have a week to prepare them to get them rested up and ready to go, and it's a local derby that everyone looks forward to, and especially in the FA Cup."