HALLAM Hope is heading for Latics after his Barbados side were well beaten in their Gold Cup qualifier.

The Caribbean Island needed to win through two games to reach the group stages of the CONCACAF competition which is taking place in the United States, but were beaten 8-1 by Bermuda in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Manchester-born Hope, who qualifies as his father was born in Barbados, will now return to link up with his new club in the build-up to the new League Two season.

The forward returns, having gone through all the necessary protocols, just as another new face at Latics, Jayson Leutwiler, is set to get his campaign under way with Canada in the same competition.

The former Blackburn, Fleetwood and Huddersfield goalkeeper has been named in Canada’s squad for their group stage games against Martinique (this Sunday, July 11), USA (July 18) and an as yet unconfirmed nation which will now not be Barbados.

Latics boss Keith Curle is more than happy for his new men to be getting sharp away from Chapel Road, both in line to be key figures when the season begins.

"We were aware of it (when they signed),” Curle said of Hope and Leutwiler's international commitments.

"It means they're fit and able, which is always good, and they're getting game time.

"Hallam hasn't really stopped playing from the end of the season. Throughout the summer he's been away on international duty and he got the opportunity to go and play again.”

The duo are among five new confirmed faces at Boundary Park so far, Curle also taking a look at some trialists in the opening days of pre-season training.

Hope, who worked with Curle at Carlisle, and Leutwiler have been joined by former Scunthorpe defenders Jordan Clarke and Harrison McGahey and ex-Southend left-back Sam Hart.

All have settled in quickly according to the Oldham head coach who is keen to engineer a real mentality shift at Boundary Park this season after an 18th-placed finish last time around again left fans questioning the direction of their club.

Asked how the new men were getting on, Curle told the club website: "Very well. I think that goes with the work that is done in the off-season in recruiting the players.

“It's not just a case of identifying a player and signing him.

"I meet them, I speak to them, I get a good understanding of their personality, their character – they understand the guidelines and the remits that I work within, what the demands are that I expect from them, not only as players on a matchday and through the week but also a person, as a character, as a figurehead in that changing room. And I've got to say, I've signed some good characters.”