Italian job sets Naylor a poser

Date published: 26 July 2013


SCOTT Naylor has welcomed Oldham full-back Richard Lepori's call-up to the Italian national side - even though he will now miss Sunday's big game at Whitebank against North Wales Crusaders.

Lepori is in the Italian squad for a European Federation game against Germany in Karlsruhe tomorrow.

A top performance could get him into Italy's World Cup squad for the internationals coming up in Italy in the autumn.

Said Naylor: "He deserves it. It's a pity he will miss one of the biggest games of the season, but when a player gets international recognition it's good for him, good for his club and something that needs to be applauded.”

The Oldham boss won't name his line-up until tomorrow morning, nor will he speculate about Lepori's replacement at full-back.

He added: "I've got tough decisions to make all around the side, but especially in the forwards.

"At this time of the season you need as many players as possible to be in contention for places, and I'm lucky to be blessed with such a good squad. I have a team in mind, obviously, but even the players don't know it yet.”

Half a dozen players carrying knocks emerged from a final medical check at training last night.

Added Naylor: "People tell us Crusaders are the best team in the league, so it's a big challenge for us.

"Players worth their salt want to pit themselves against the best - so we'll do that and see what happens."



FORMER Oldham half-back Jamie Dallimore doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when he looks ahead to his first game back at Whitebank since he upped sticks and moved out in April.

"Walking into the ground, talking with my ex-Oldham mates and then leaving them to head off into the visitors' dressing room will be weird," said Dallimore.

"It's going to be a very close game. Unlike Roughyeds, we can afford to lose one as far as the title is concerned - but I think we'll both go up, one of us as champions and the other as play-off winners."



OLDHAM under-20s were beaten 54-0 at York last night. York fielded four first-team players in a strong squad, while Oldham played without any senior men and were minus several young regulars