Positive Ashton awaits results

TOM Ashton has his fingers crossed for good news in a consultation at Salford Royal Hospital tomorrow to discuss scan results.

“I’m calling Friday D-Day — the day I get the big decision on what happens next,” said the 22-year-old Oldham RL centre, who damaged his left knee in only his second game for the club against South Wales Scorpions at Mountain Ash a month ago.

Having signed from Sheffield Eagles in mid-March, Ashton impressed in a try-scoring debut against Coventry Bears at Whitebank on April 12 and followed up with another eye-catching display in South Wales before he was injured in a tackle just before half-time.

He had a scan a fortnight ago and he sees a specialist tomorrow for the prognosis.

anxious

Oldham coach Scott Naylor said: “He’s anxious to know when he can start training again, but that will obviously depend on what the scan has thrown up and whether he needs surgery or just rest and rehab.

“We need to know what comes next so that we can get on with doing whatever is required to get him back in training and then playing for us again.”

Ashton was on crutches for a while after the South Wales game, but he is walking unaided again now and says he is hopeful that the prognosis might not be as serious as was first feared.

“Initially, I was given specific exercises to do and it was difficult at first, but now I’m doing them easily, so that’s got to be a good sign,” he added.

“I’m feeling good and hoping I might be able to start light training again in a couple of weeks, but everything depends on the scan results and the specialist’s verdict.”

Ashton’s injury was one half of a double back-division whammy for Roughyeds, who lost on-loan Jon Ford about the same time when he was recalled by his parent club, Salford Red Devils.

George Tyson, primarily a back-row forward, has done a great job at centre with back-up from Sammy Gee and Jack Holmes, but will now miss the next two games against Keighley and North Wales because of suspension.

Most League One teams, including leaders Oldham, are without a game this weekend because of the inaugural, two-day Summer Bash for Championship clubs at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool and the iPro Sport Cup final between North Wales Crusaders and Swinton Lions at the same venue.

The cup final kicks off at noon on Saturday, to be followed at 2.30pm by the first of the six Summer Bash games, Workington Town v Whitehaven.

All six, three on Saturday, three on Sunday, will be screened live by Sky Sports.

The only League One fixture is York City Knights v South Wales Scorpions tomorrow (8pm).