Clay to return after surgery

TOP Roughyeds try scorer Adam Clay will be back at Oldham next season after a minor operation on his right ankle in November.

The 24-year-old former Barrow and North Wales Crusaders winger is the latest member of Scott Naylor's League One title-winning outfit to sign a new one-year contract.

And he is already well versed in Championship rugby, having played 26 games for Barrow in that division in 2013 and another nine for Crusaders in 2014 before his switch to Oldham.

Said Naylor: "He's strong, powerful and a proven try-scorer. He brings a lot to the team and although he's one of the jokers in the squad, nobody takes the game more seriously when it's time to get focused."

Clay expects to be back in full training by December and fully fit for the start of the new season.

"I had no hesitation in signing a new deal because I'm happier at Oldham than I've ever been," said Clay.

"My ankle hasn't been right for a long time, but I could play on it so we decided to put the operation on hold until the autumn. It's nothing major, just a clean-out, but I'm looking forward to getting the job done so that I'll be fully fit for the Championship.

Deadline for fans voting for the supporters' player of the year is 5pm on Monday.

Entries can be emailed to: oldhamrlfc@btconnect.com or left as a message on the club's Facebook page. In all instances name and address must be given.

The fans' trophy will be one of several awards to be presented at the promotion celebration dinner at Whitebank on Friday, October 2.