Naylor keen to look at options

SCOTT Naylor may tinker with team selection despite his satisfaction with the performance in Oldham’s resounding 42-6 defeat of Coventry in the iPro Sport League One Cup.

The Roughyeds coach is considering changes when the new boys from the Midlands make a return visit to Whitebank this Sunday (3pm) in the third round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

“I might make full use of the squad because I need to give other players a game, and I want to look at them against the same opponents we had last week,” he said.

Naylor wouldn’t be drawn on who he had in mind, but among those who had a watching brief in the first of Coventry’s three visits to Whitebank in the first six weeks of the season were Danny Langtree, Richard Joy, Kenny Hughes, Steven Nield and the 18-year-old baby of the squad, Tom Dempsey.

Langtree, joint player of the year in 2014, was ruled out by hamstring trouble. He remains doubtful for this weekend, but if he doesn’t make it he will be pushing for the all-clear for the iPro League One Cup-tie at Barrow a week later.

Joy, younger brother of prop Phil, was sidelined by a slight fracture of an eye socket, but he expects to be back sooner than expected..

Naylor said “If not better, then I expect us to play at least as well as last week, so it could be a good opportunity to look at my options.”

David Cookson’s departure has left him without a recognised centre, but he is happy enough at the way George Tyson, Jack Holmes and Sam Gee have played out of position there in the four games so far.

Holmes was switched to full-back last time out, leaving forwards Gee and Tyson in the threequarters.

“They both played well, but they need to be playing like that consistently,” said Naylor.

“The more they play there, the more they will get used to the position. It’s the way it is this year. We just have to get on with it.”

Naylor hasn’t ruled out moves to strengthen his squad, but he won’t be rushed into recruiting.