PROMOTION will not be enough for Sam Ricketts next season – he has set his sights on domination.

The full-back has high hopes for Wanderers if they can keep together the squad that will return for pre-season training at the end of this week.

Ricketts has welcomed the addition of Keith Andrews but believes it is also imperative to keep hold of Liverpool target Mark Davies to complete an engine room he reckons will be the envy of the division.

“He (Davies) is one of the best players at our disposal,” he said. “I look at our midfield next season and it’s really strong. I’d be surprised if there’s a better one in the whole of the Championship and it would be good to think we could keep all of those players together.

“We should look to be controlling games. It can’t just be a case of ‘we’ll have it, you have it’.

“When you play like that in the Premier League it’s hard to cope. You have to ride your luck a little bit.

“With due respect to the teams around us this season, I would hope we could dictate the tempo more and give our forwards the best possible chance to score goals.”

Republic of Ireland international Andrews became Owen Coyle’s first summer signing after his release from West Brom and is likely to step straight into the defensive midfield role vacated by Nigel Reo-Coker.

Ricketts thinks the 31-year-old is a perfect fit.

“He’s someone I came across at Oxford when he came on loan for a short while and again at Hull for a few weeks before he moved on to MK Dons,” he said.

“As soon as Nigel indicated that he wouldn’t be staying I heard that Keith Andrews had been released, it seemed the logical choice and I think it’s a great bit of business for the club.

“If we’re looking to get through a 46-game season then we have to keep the ball better than we possibly have in the past. Keith is one of those who can put his foot on the ball. He’ll be a good signing, I’m sure of that.”

Ricketts has been working with athletes from Team GB to make sure he heads into next season in peak physical condition.

He missed half of the last campaign with a ruptured Achilles and is keen to do everything he can to avoid another prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Ricketts has trained alongside sprinters Christian Malcolm, Marlon Devonish and Greg Rutherford and pole vaulter Steve Lewis in the last few weeks, picking up tips he hopes will enable him to extend his career well into his thirties.

“It’s something I do off my own back,” he told The Bolton News. “I look at examples like Gary Speed or Ryan Giggs, and speak to those playing at the top level, and it’s important that you give yourself the best possible chance.”

And though Ricketts will be returning to Euxton for fitness testing at the end of this week, he also intends to cheer his friends at Team GB on at the Olympics.

“The tickets finally dropped through the door the other day,” he said. “I’d been getting worried.

“I’ll be going to see the 100m finals and 4x100m finals, so it should be a fantastic show.”