Hodson facing fitness fight

ROUGHYEDS officials will discover tonight the extent of Ian Hodson’s injury.

The forward came off midway through the first half of Sunday’s 40-16 win over Workington Town clutching his forearm.

There were fears he had suffered a fracture which would have ruled him out of the National League Two play-off picture, but X-rays showed no break.

The damage appears to be more ligament and muscular and he will undergo treatment when those players carrying knocks convene for a physio session.

“Ian was in quite a bit of pain after Sunday’s match and the area was still swollen when I spoke to him last night,” said Oldham coach Steve Deakin.

“It’s not broken, but at this stage we don’t whether he will be available for the play-offs.”

Hodson, who is in his second spell at the club, has three weeks in which to recover before the Roughyeds’ next match in their quest for promotion.

Oldham will know by Sunday who they will play in the last four.

They will meet either Keighley or Doncaster in the qualifying play-off for the right to progress into the NL2 Grand Final on September 28.

Doncaster have two games left, against Barrow on Wednesday and Hunslet on Sunday, while Keighley play London Skolars on Friday.

The break between now and Oldham’s next game on September 14 will allow Deakin’s players a recovery period after a rigorous season which has featured two extended cup runs and provide time for the coach to make any adjustments for the challenges that lie ahead.

Deakin added: “I was a little bit disappointed with a fair number of aspects of our game against Workington, but we have got three weeks in which to rectify them now.

“We are also able to give people time off to give their bodies and minds a bit of a break.”