Injury pile-up hits Deakin’s plans

A CATALOGUE of injury problems is causing Steve Deakin a huge headache ahead of the game against Barrow at Boundary Park on Sunday.

Top points scorer Mick Nanyn is definitely out, having fractured his thumb during the 18-10 defeat at Doncaster in midweek. He will return to hospital in 10 days’ time for a further assessment, as will Tommy Goulden, who sustained ligament damage in his foot.

Matty Brooks (torn calf) and Craig Littler (broken jaw) are also missing for the penultimate National League Two home game of the season, while doubts hang over the fitness of Phil Joseph (ribs), Marcus St Hilaire (back), Adam Robinson (knee and wrist), Paul O’Connor (hip) and Danny Halliwell (bruised ribs).

Deakin is to scour the player market for any possible replacements, the end of business today marking the signings deadline for the NL2 season, and will name his side as late as possible.

“We will get everyone to the stadium on Sunday, perform checks on the players and name our least busted 17,” he said.

This is a match Oldham desperately need to win to keep alive chances of automatic promotion.

Raiders, who have lost four of their last five fixtures, arrive at Boundary Park without former Oldham man Adam Hughes (knee ligaments) and Lee Dutton (knee) has a knee problem.

“I don’t think this is a game that we have to win,” said Barrow coach Dave Clark. “We’ve still got a game in hand and if we win three out of four then we’ll still get automatic promotion.”

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

Barrow (probable): Beattie; Backhouse, Harrison, Bowman, Nixon; Holt, Finch; Dutton, Ellis, Cassidy, McDermott, Ostler, Armitstead. Subs: Sice, Carter, Raftery, Butler.

n SEAN Whitehead has resigned his position as a director of Oldham RLFC. Whitehead, who re-formed the club along with Chris Hamilton in 1997 following the demise of Oldham Bears, has cited personal reasons and is expected to release a statement over the weekend.