Oldham eye new arrivals

COMEBACK HOPE: Paul Highton.

OLDHAM are hopeful of bringing in fresh blood before the deadline for new signings expires on Friday, with centre Jamie Russo one possible acquisition.

The Australian, who has played seven times for Gateshead in the Co-operative Championship this season, joined up with the Roughyeds for an initial two-game spell which ended with the 28-22 home victory over London Skolars.

But now, after scoring tries in both his showings, Russo may be reconsidering his original plan to head back home.

“We have spoken to Jamie and he expressed a willingness to talk to us, so it is one of the things we will be looking at this week,” explained Oldham’s chief executive Chris Hamilton, who also confirmed he is looking to bring a further one or two players in to boost numbers for the end-of-season run-in.

Paul Highton could make a comeback in this weekend’s away clash with Blackpool, who won 48-18 at Hornets RL yesterday.

The experienced former Salford prop forward has been out for seven weeks with a knee injury but after having an injection he is now set to train normally once again.

The other injured parties in coach Tony Benson’s squad will be examined at training tonight after all the players were given the weekend off.

Oldham’s reserves lost 48-28 at Barrow on Saturday, with pre-match disruption not helping matters.

Full-back Ross Coates suffered a severe allergic reaction on the morning of the game, ruling him out of the trip, while powerful new centre Luke Rhoden was ruled out at the warm-up stage with a hip problem.

Up against a Barrow side featuring several first-team players — including ex-Roughyeds captain Robert Roberts, who played for 40 minutes as he makes his comeback from injury — Oldham slipped to a 32-0 half-time deficit before pulling things round after the break.

Austin Barraclough (two), Dominic Lespierre, Sean Robinson and Mike Priest all scored for John Hough’s side, with Mark Smith kicking four goals from five.