Langley on long road to recovery

GARETH Langley’s operation to repair a damaged shoulder is said to have gone without a hitch.

The Oldham winger, who had a stop-start campaign in 2008 due to injuries, will now get started on rehabilitation work in order to get back up to full fitness.

There is no time scale set for his return as yet, with the club still to receive the specialist’s report detailing the damage he sustained. He is expected to be at least three months away from a return to action.

And even when he does get back to full speed, it is doubtful that — barring injuries to Tony Benson’s first team squad — the out-of-contract former St Helens man will be offered a new deal.

Marcus St Hilaire, Lucas Onyango, Daryl Cardiss, Paul O’Connor, Ben Seru, Andy Ballard, Paul Reilly and Lee Greenwood are all more than capable of playing out wide.

The new season is due to kick off next year with a Northern Rail Cup game against Rochdale Hornets on Sunday, February 8, but that fixture is now in some doubt with Oldham’s rivals having been served a winding-up order for £55,000 by the Inland Revenue. The case is due to be heard in the High Court in London on January 14.

The Roughyeds’ second scheduled fixture, away at Widnes on Friday, February 13, has had its kick-off time brought forward from 8pm to 7.30pm.