Naylor weighs up options

JON FORD . . . fit for Sunday’s trip to Barrow.

WITH tough back-to-back warm-up games at Barrow and Rochdale ahead of the Championship opener, Oldham coach Scott Naylor will check all his options before naming his squad for Craven Park on Sunday.

Naylor has spent time in Huddersfield with Giants’ coach Paul Anderson to discuss Oldham’s partnership with the Super League club - most notably its dual registration agreement.

Jon Ford, who took a bang to the head at Keighley in the first of the Roughyeds’ three pre-season games, wasn’t in the squad hoping to play in the ill-fated Law Cup game at Spotland last week, which fell victim to winter weather.

The centre is fit again and he will be back in contention this weekend with the other 20 players - though Naylor is keeping his options open and must still decide on a selection strategy.

He said: “Everybody is fit and everybody is training well, but I’ve still a lot of thinking to do before I name the squad. Among other things I’ll be considering what I saw at Keighley in the first game and how best to use my players against Barrow and then Rochdale, to have the squad in the best possible shape for the London game.

“Dual registration is available this weekend if we need it, so I’ll weigh up all my options over the next day or two.”