Thompson doubtful for important Barrow test

Liam Thompson of Oldham is held during the Kingstone Press Championship game

LIAM Thompson, who has a lower-back problem, is doubtful for Oldham RL Club's second pre-season game at Barrow on Sunday (2pm start).

A final decision will be made later, but with the Law Cup derby clash against Rochdale Hornets at Bower Fold only a week away, coach Scott Naylor may leave him out as a precaution.

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Danny Langtree (hamstring) will miss both games, but everyone else who played at Swinton is available and the squad will be strengthened by the addition of Adam Clay and, hopefully, Danny Grimshaw.

Grimshaw will be given his first run-out after groin surgery if he shows no reaction at training tomorrow (Sat) to the rigorous tests he has passed this week.

The club's medical staff have told Naylor that new-boy Nathan Chappell, who has had a knee operation, is still a couple of weeks away.

Sunday's squad: Turner, Clay, Warburton, Tyson, Neild, Chisholm, Leatherbarrow, Hewitt, Joy, Owen, Neal, Gee, Spencer, Thompson, Davies, Burke, Hughes, Grimshaw, Ward.

In losing 32-14 at Swinton, Roughyeds produced some of the poorest team statistics Naylor has seen in his four years at the club.

He added: "I'm not looking for fancy stuff at Barrow.

"We need to get the basics right - good yardage, strong defensive structures and stuff like that. The result is not important, but we need to get things right because the Law Cup result next week is VERY important."