Fit-again four to boost Roughyeds

FOUR players are back in contention for the Roughyeds as their most important week of the season kicks off with a testing away game at York.

Simeon Hoyle (ankle), Neil Roden (back), Jason Boults (knee) and Adam Robinson (knee) are all in contention for a place in the side for Sunday’s National League Two match at the Huntington Stadium (3pm kick off), while Mick Nanyn is set to start after shaking off the dead leg that ended his participation in last week’s 30-28 home win over Keighley.

Steve Deakin’s men – who have tasted defeat just once in the last nine games – are looking to pick up a vital three points which would provide a timely boost ahead of a midweek trip to Doncaster and the home game against Barrow the following Sunday.

The Knights also enter the game in good spirits, though, having picked up three successive and emphatic wins.

Last year’s clash between the sides at the same venue provided a thrilling climax as Rob Roberts dropped a goal on debut to hand the Roughyeds a 15-14 victory.

Roberts will turn out again for Oldham ahead of his disciplinary hearing on Tuesday in which he will discover his punishment for a sending-off against Keighley last week.

The squad will convene for a final training session prior to the game tonight, at which Deakin will name his team.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, Langley, St Hilaire, Nanyn, Cardiss, Hodson, Coyle, Menzies, Brooks, Mervill, Goulden, Halliwell, Roberts, Joseph, Baines, Sutton, Tamghart, Roden, Boults, Hoyle, Robinson.

For York, Danny Ekis will be missing until at least the play-offs as he needs a double hernia operation, with the game coming too soon for Ryan Esders and and Scott Rhodes.

Flying winger Lee Mapals, linked with Oldham last month, is unlikely to be involved again for the Knights following his fall-out with the club.

Former Roughyeds forward Andy Bailey is likely to start from the bench.

York (probable): Ratcliffe; Lewis, Clayton, Grundy, Oakes; Mitchell, P March; Sullivan, Hughes, Buckley, Divorty, Habarecht, D March. Subs: Hodgson, Bailey, Applegarth, Woodcock.