Long lay-off for Nield

POSITIVE . . . Steve Nield.

STEVEN Nield’s Oldham RL future is in the balance as he prepares to go into hospital tomorrow for a major operation on his left knee.

Steve will have surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is unlikely to play for up to a year.

Injured at Keighley on May 31, the 24-year-old utility back picked up the clubman of the year award at the Roughyeds’ promotion dinner for supporting the team despite hiding the disappointment at missing the second half of a fabulous season.

Nield had played in eight of the first 13 games when his season came to an abrupt end in a harmless-looking incident at Cougar Park.

“The knee just buckled underneath me as I put pressure on it, and that was that. It was something and nothing yet it caused so much damage,” said Nield, who has been at his hometown club since he was 19.

Oldham have been a large part of his life for the past five years, but he is out of contract now and likely to be out of action for most of the club’s crack at Championship rugby..

“I’m hoping to be playing again in nine or 10 months rather than 12, but at best I’m going to be out for most of next season.

“For obvious reasons, I’ve not been offered a new contract, but the club is sticking by me and offering me as much help as possible and I’m very grateful for that. I’ll still be around the place and helping out wherever I can.”