Fit-again Ford back in the frame

JON Ford — seven tries in seven games for Oldham this season — has recovered from a knee injury to give Scott Naylor more options for the squad for Sunday’s league derby at Swinton Lions.

The 21-year-old loan Salford Red Devils centre limped out of the North Wales Crusaders game on June 7 at half-time and missed the 64-0 win against Oxford.

But a scan cleared him of knee ligament damage, revealing the injury to be bruising of the bone. Ford has since passed a fitness test and will resume training with Roughyeds tomorrow night.

“He’ll be available for weekend,” confirmed Naylor as he prepares for the Sedgley Park, Whitefield game.

At this stage he appears to have the 17 who put 12 tries past Oxford, plus Michael Ward, new-boy David Hewitt and Ford.

The only two players won’t be available: Steven Nield and Tom Ashton, both out with knee injuries. Nield, injured at Keighley on May 31, is waiting for a scan, but there is better news of Ashton, who is now working hard on a rehab programme that will cut the original estimate of six to eight weeks out.

“He’s making good progress and with a bit of luck he could be back training with the full squad in three to four weeks,” said Naylor.

“When he’s back it will be like having another new player, given that he was injured in only his second game for us.”