Key man Joy’s fitness fight

PHIL JOY . . . injury.

PROP Phil Joy, who hurt his thigh in the 38-16 win against Dewsbury Rams, will be assessed tonight ahead of Oldham RL Club’s game at Featherstone Rovers on Sunday afternoon.

He is thought to have a good chance of making the game, though he will be closely monitored by club physio Patrick Hoyte.

Joy has had three big games against London Broncos, Leigh Centurions and the Rams, and the Roughyeds will be anxious for him to prove his fitness and produce more of the same on Sunday.

Three games in, coach Scott Naylor still hasn’t had dual-registration reinforcements from Huddersfield Giants - mainly because the Giants themselves have major injury problems that might not change this weekend.

If not - and given that new signing Gary Middlehurst needs more time to prepare - Naylor will need to choose from last week’s 17 plus Steve Roper, Jon Ford, Adam Files and Jamel Chisholm.

In a similar injury setback to that suffered by Briscoe and Oldham, Featherstone have lost new hooker Matty Wildie with a long-term injury and have failed an attempt to replace him with York’s Kriss Brining.

The clubs agreed a transfer but the player opted to stay with City Knights.