Prop Joy to have scan on shoulder

PHIL JOY

PROP Phil Joy was to have a scan today on the shoulder he dislocated in Oldham's 20-18 defeat by London Broncos at Bower Fold 10 days ago.

A powerhouse in the Roughyeds' front row, and at 6ft 2in and 111 kgs the biggest forward at the club, he will be hoping to be back as quickly as possible, having already missed the heavy defeat at Hull KR.

Coach Scott Naylor, however, said the club would be guided by professional advice, as always, and would act in the player's best interests.

He added: "Phil's a tough lad and he's anxious to be playing again, but the shoulder joint needs time to settle down and we don't want him coming back too soon and then it going on him again.

"We'll perhaps know better about time scales when we get the results of his scan."

Danny Grimshaw, who suffered a head injury in the first half at Hull KR and took no further part in the game, will be assessed at training tonight as Naylor's thoughts turn to Dewsbury Rams' visit to Bower Fold on Sunday.

They will be seeking their first win of the season after four defeats and that, says Naylor, will make them dangerous opponents.

George Tyson will be available again after completing his four-match ban and after a few weeks of intense training to get himself into shape for the rigours of Championship rugby league, Richard Lepori can't be too far away from staking a claim.

It's nearly a month since he re-signed for the club after a few months out after the end of last season and he's been working hard to make up for lost time.

With tough league games coming up against Rochdale and Batley away and Bradford at home before the trip to Toulouse a week before Easter, Naylor's men can't afford to slip up against the Rams in a very important fixture at Bower Fold on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

To combat a crippling injury list, they've signed winger Alex Brown, formerly of Keighley, Halifax, Rochdale and Batley as well as Castleford prop Daniel Igbinedion on a month's loan.

Half-back Liam Coe, from Bradford amateurs West Bowling, has also been drafted in to give coach Glenn Morrison more options.

The draw for the fourth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, which includes the 12 Championship clubs, will be made tonight ahead of the ties on the weekend of March 18 and 19.

Oldham and the other Championship clubs will go into the hat with Barrow Raiders, Doncaster, Keighley Cougars, Gloucester All Golds, London Skolars, Hunslet, Newcastle Thunder, Oxford, Whitehaven, York City Knights, amateurs Haydock - and the full-time professionals of Toronto Wolfpack.