Oldham to run rule over full-back

TOM Whitehead, who has been battling a leg injury, will be checked in training tonight as Oldham RL club prepares for Sunday’s trip to London Skolars.

The full-back missed the Roughyeds’ Challenge Cup win at Egremont Rangers, but with Liam Thompson and David Cookson on the long-term injury list, coach Scott Naylor won’t want anyone else out of action for longer than absolutely necessary.

Phil Joy and Mark Hobson were in last Saturday’s team for the first time this season, while 19-year-old dual-registration centre Edwin Okanga-Ajwang made his Roughyeds’ debut off the bench midway through the first half in Cumbria.

With Danny Whitmore and Londoner Paddy Mooney also pushing for recalls, Naylor will have no shortage of options in the selection of his forwards.

Skolars are among the teams Oldham play three times in a 20-match Championship One programme so this will be the first of two trips to north London.

Skolars have had a massive turnover of players since the end of last season, making them something of an unknown quantity.