Coyle boost for Oldham

injury tonic: Thomas Coyle will be fitted with a special metal splint.

THOMAS COYLE is in line to make a quicker-than-expected return to the Roughyeds ranks against York next week.

The 21-year-old scrum-half or hooker is waiting on the delivery of a special metal splint which, once fitted, should allow him to train and play as normal up until the end of the season.

Once the campaign is over, the younger of Oldham’s Coyle brothers will go for a scan on the ankle ligaments injury he suffered in the 44-26 win at Swinton last month.

“Thomas has been assessed and Rachael (Johnson, club physio) has spoken to the player,” said Oldham chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“We think that being able to get him a specialist splint, which effectively does the job of the ankle ligaments, will enable him to carry on as normal until the end of the season.

“We are not sure at this stage if he will be ready in time for the York game. The bruising came out pretty quickly, which was a good sign, and he continues to respond to treatment.

“It partly depends on how quickly we can get hold of the splint, though we are quite confident it will arrive soon.”

The halfback has so far missed only one game in what is a quiet section of the season for the Roughyeds.

The former Wigan academy prospect was absent from the side which lost 32-18 to Featherstone in the Northern Rail Cup quarter-finals at the Leigh Sports Village, with Neil Roden stepping in to the side.

Though ‘Ratty’ impressed in creating two well-worked tries on the night, the return of Coyle would certainly provide a welcome boost for coach Tony Benson.

With only two hookers currently at the club in Gary Sykes and Phil Joseph, Coyle’s ability to step in at dummy-half could prove invaluable following the departure of Irish number nine Stevie Gibbons.

The only other injury concern in the squad is captain Robert Roberts, who is set for a scan this week on his injured knee.

Benson’s squad took part in a conditioning session on Saturday morning and will reconvene tomorrow night, with the televised away game at York taking place a week on Thursday.


YORK City Knights, Oldham’s next opponents in Championship One, moved up to third place and within one point of the Roughyeds following an impressive 34-6 victory at Hunslet Hawks.