Naylor’s hint at Oldham changes

ROUGHYEDS coach Scott Naylor is considering his options for Sunday’s trip to Gloucester.

STEVEN Roper may get his long-awaited Oldham debut against Gloucester All Golds on Sunday.

The Rochdale Hornets’ half-back’s initial one-month loan spell is nearly up and he is still to drag the Oldham jersey over his head.

Coach Scott Naylor confirmed that 27-year-old Roper is in contention — along with 22 others — and that he will be making changes for the game at Cheltenham’s Prince of Wales Stadium.

“That’s not because anybody has been playing poorly,” he said. “I’m thinking of making a few changes, because I want to look at different players.”

Three are ruled out by injury — Adam Files, Edwin Okanga-Ajwang and long-term casualty Liam Thompson. Everybody else is fit and available.

Oldham have had no trouble scoring points, amassing 143 in the last four games. But defensively the team needs attention. It might be with that in mind that Naylor is considering his options.

Of a Gloucester side that won at London Skolars last time out in new coach Steve McCormack's opening gambit, Naylor said: “I’ve seen footage and they are playing very well indeed.”