Coyle and Joseph face fitness fight

FOUR Oldham players are rated as more-than-likely to miss tomorrow’s Co-operative Championship One derby game against Rochdale Hornets.

In-form scrum-half Thomas Coyle (groin) and powerhouse Phil Joseph (hip) are struggling with injuries picked up in last week’s 60-30 win over Lézignan, with Paul Highton (wrist) and Tommy Goulden (hamstring) joining the pair as “40-per-cent” chances of taking to the field at Spotland, according to Roughyeds coach Tony Benson.

Definitely ruled out is captain Robert Roberts, with the rib injury that has seen him miss Oldham’s last two games.

Lee Greenwood is expected to return on the left wing in place of Lucas Onyango, currently back home in Kenya due to a family bereavement, while Irish hooker or stand-off Stevie Gibbons could make his first appearance since injuring his shoulder in the Roughyeds’ first game of the season, the 22-20 win away at Widnes.

Victory tomorrow would see Oldham stay top of the table — at least for the time being.

Currently on seven points, gained from two wins and a bonus point in defeat at Keighley, Benson’s men could be overtaken by Swinton, if Paul Kidd’s side manage back-to-back wins tomorrow at Blackpool and on Easter Monday at home to Workington.

Oldham don’t have another fixture until a week on Sunday, having pushed back their scheduled Easter Monday clash against third-placed Dewsbury.

Hornets - deducted nine points for entering administration - are currently bottom of the table on minus seven, having gained bonus points in defeat in both league games played so far.

Coach Darren Shaw is expecting to select from a fully-fit squad. Janan Billings has a slight hamstring strain but is likely to be involved, while John Walker, Liam McGovern and Martin Gambles also come into the mix.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, Ballard, Littler, St Hilaire, Greenwood, J Coyle, T Coyle, Menzies, Sykes, Mervill, Baines, Allen, Joseph, Halliwell, Robinson, Reilly, I’Anson, Kerr, Roden, Bingham, Gibbons, Goulden, Highton.

Hornets (from): Johnson, Gillam, Fogerty, Mayberry, Rivett, Ainscough, Hough, Cunliffe, Grundy, Raftery, Donoghue, Sinfield, Brocklehurst, Corcoran, McLoughlin, Isherwood, Best, Walker, Billings, McGovern, Gambles.


OLDHAM St Anne’s under-nines will take on Rochdale Mayfield during the half-time interval at Spotland tomorrow.