Oldham injury boost

Jamel Chisholm

OLDHAM RL players Jamel Chisholm and Scott Turner, both hurt near the end of Sunday's Law Cup derby at Bower Fold, should be fit for the Championship opener against Sheffield Eagles on February 5, said coach Scott Naylor.

Giving injury updates after last night's training session, the Roughyeds boss said Chisholm's sore knee was "nothing serious" and Turner's minor grade-one calf strain would normally be healed in the time available.

"They could both be ready, along with a few others who didn't play in the Law Cup," said Naylor, citing Adam Clay, Nathan Chappell and Danny Grimshaw as those with the best chance of being in the spotlights when the curtain goes up on the 2017 Championship campaign.

Grimshaw's Law Cup absence, he said, was merely precautionary, while Chappell should be training next week in full after knee surgery.

CHANCE

There was even a chance that Danny Langtree, who damaged a hamstring at Swinton on January 8, could also play.

A return for those players, plus the anticipated arrival on loan of Castleford duo Kieran Gill and Tuoyo Egodo, would help to compensate for the anticipated loss through suspension of George Tyson, who was sent off for fighting after the Law Cup hooter had sounded for the end of the game.

As for others on the casualty list, Liam Thompson needs a scan on his lower back while Ben Davies, who has a similar complaint.

Craig Briscoe, who will miss most of the season, goes into a Wigan hospital today for a full knee reconstruction, after which he will do most of his rehab under the care of the Huddersfield Giants medical team.

Asked if his players had recovered from their Law Cup setback, Naylor said: "The important thing then is how you react and respond to it."