No worries for Highton after debut

PAUL Highton believes his run-out at Widnes has done him the world of good confidence-wise.

The 32-year-old prop forward played in an Oldham shirt for the first time at the Stobart Stadium and showed up well, putting in a 50-minute stint to help his new team-mates to a remarkable 22-20 win over the Co-operative Championship favourites.

While he can still feel the wrist problem which required surgery in the off-season, it held up well enough for Highton to personally target the three wins in just over a week — Rochdale visit Boundary Park tonight, followed by Sheffield Eagles travelling over on Sunday — which should land the Roughyeds a place in the Northern Rail Cup last eight.

"I was a bit rusty fitness-wise but that was only to be expected, seeing as it was my first hit-out since the National League One Grand Final five months ago," said the former Salford City Reds man and Oldham vice-captain.

"I can still feel the wrist but playing with it wasn't a problem. I felt physically strong though I'm not match fit yet and from that point of view, having this run of games in a short space of time should do me good.

"Widnes was probably our toughest game, while the other two are at home. Rochdale will be really tough, as the form book tends to go out of the window when these two sides play each other.

"I expect it will be a different game altogether and very physical as opposed to the Widnes game, which was at a quick pace."

Highton also feels that the Widnes win could have been more emphatic.

"Those who were at the game will know it was a well-deserved win," he added. "The score line flattered them a bit.

"They came strongly at us in the second half but we also took our foot off the gas a little bit and lost direction, giving away a few penalties.

"We have spoken about it and it is something we need to eradicate."