Thompson set for first home start

FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . Roughyeds coach Scott Naylor.

Oldham’s young loose-forward Liam Thompson is in line for a home debut in Sunday’s clash with Oxford at Whitebank.

The 21-year-old Wiganer is a prototype of Scott Naylor’s new squad — youthful, talented, ambitious and with an impressive pedigree.

Thompson retains his place in the 19 from whom Naylor will select his side for this weekend’s showdown (3pm) with Tony Benson’s squad of Whitebank old boys.

Three who didn’t play in Oldham’s last game — prop Chris Tyrer, hooker Sam Gee and centre Danny Samuel — are back in contention, but there is no place for Steven Nield, who loses his centre spot, or for Liam Gilchrist, who has been out for six weeks with a calf muscle injury.

The front-row forward continues to make good progress, but Naylor took an early decision on him at training last night and concluded this was no game for a player who has been sidelined for so long.

The Oldham coach said: “We’ll be looking to bring him back at Hemel Stags in a fortnight or maybe in the under-20s against Halifax at Whitebank next Friday.”

Nield plays in the under-20s against Featherstone at Whitebank tonight (8pm kick off), so Samuel looks set to partner Mo Agoro on the right flank.

Thompson’s place in the 17 would appear to be secure, given that he and Mark Hobson — the footballer and the grafter — complement each other perfectly for sharing the workload at loose-forward.

Interestingly, Naylor has called up promising young scrum-half Sam Singleton out of the under-20s to train with the first team.

He plays with the second team tonight — his third appearance after joining from Leigh — but, starting next week, he will then train with the senior side on a permanent basis.

Naylor went on: “He’s made a big impression in his short time at the club. He fell into our lap and he’s looking good. As soon as I get the chance I’ll put him in the first team and we’ll see how he goes.”

More immediately, Naylor has tough selection decisions across the whole of the front-row.

One of his five props and one of his three hookers will be disappointed as the Oldham boss wrestles with his match-day squad.