Ford returns for third stint

OLDHAM RL have swooped on Salford Red Devils to sign highly-rated centre Jon Ford for the third time.

Paper work covering the three-month loan – March 19 to June 19 – was completed in time for 21-year old Ford to stake a claim for one of the Roughyeds’ centre spots in Sunday’s fourth-round Ladbrokes Challenge Cup clash with Sheffield Eagles. “He’ll be available for selection immediately, and it’s nice to have him back,” said coach Scott Naylor.

Naylor’s in-form Roughyeds have won their first three games of the season without a recognised centre following David Cookson’s departure from the club, for work reasons, several weeks ago.

Naylor has been looking to strengthen his threequarter line ever since and has now landed the man who, in his two previous spells at Whitebank, averaged more than a try per game.

In 2013, Ford top-scored with 21 tries in 15 appearances, while last year he added another 13 tries in 16 outings – an impressive overall record of 34 tries in 31 games.

Added Naylor: “At training last night Jon looked as though he had never been away. It will be an easy transition for him.

“He brings more quality to the squad and you can never have enough of that.

“He’s been working on his game at Salford, so he should be an even better player than he was last year.”

Ford went back to Salford after Oldham’s 2014 Grand Final defeat by Hunslet and did a full pre-season programme with his parent club.

He played in pre-season friendlies and they took him to France as cover for the game at Catalan Dragons, after which Salford addressed the need for him to be playing regularly and agreed to let him go out on loan.

I was never going to turn it down once I knew it was Oldham who were in for me,À said Ford.

I talked to my agent and to Iestyn (Salford coach Iestyn Harris) and things moved quickly on from there.

Oldham have been a huge part of my development as a rugby player, and Iive a lot to thank them for.À

Michael Ward, knocked out in last Sundayis 32-10 win at Barrow, is the Roughyeds biggest doubt for Sundayis tie, which will be played at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, kick-off 3pm.

Danny Langtree will be back in contention after hamstring trouble, while Lewis Palfrey (shoulder injury) is also expected to get the all-clear,