Roughyeds in double injury jolt

Photo: Darren Robinson

Jamal Chisholm..

JAMEL Chisholm and Danny Grimshaw are out of Oldham's Summer Bash derby clash with Swinton Lions at Blackpool on Sunday.

Chisholm has a seriously damaged finger and Grimshaw has a groin injury.

They are the latest victims of an injury jinx which began in pre-season and has continued since, currently claiming Chisholm, Grimshaw, Craig Briscoe (knee), Jack Spencer (hand), Richard Lepori (shoulder) and Jon Ford (knee).

Oldham coach Scott Naylor said it was too early to estimate how long Chisholm (pictured) and Grimshaw would be sidelined, but he revealed that the winger's finger was "a real mess" and that he might require surgery.

Tom Ashton, out for nearly three months after an operation to remove a burst appendix, is now off the casualty list and is included in a 21-man provisional squad, made up of the 17 remaining fit players and dual-reg personnel from Huddersfield Giants.

Naylor won't name his Giants 'imports' at this stage, but he used four in a hard-fought 12-6 defeat at Halifax last time out ­- Jared Simpson (full-back), Liam Johnson (centre), Kruise Leeming (hooker) and Tyler Dickinson (prop).

Liam Thompson damaged a foot at The Shay, but the injury responded quickly to treatment and he was able to train normally last night.

Naylor said: "Swinton are a good side. They've gone better as the season has gone on. They've signed good players and they play a fast, free brand of rugby.

"They've had it tough in their last two games against Bradford and Leigh, but for teams like Oldham and Swinton those matches are largely irrelevant."

Lions boss John Duffy will pick from the side that played Leigh last week, plus Macauley Hallett, Jordan Hand, Gabriel Fell and Liam Marshall.

Oldham (from): backs, Palfrey, Ashton, Clay, Owen, Gee, Holmes, Roper; forwards, Langtree, Joy, Ward, Files, Hope, Thompson, Hughes, Middlehurst, Burke, Spencer; plus dual-reg players.

Swinton (from): Hyde, Fell, Robinson, Littler, Hallett, Lloyd, Butt, Marshall, White, Atkin, Austin, Nicholson, Bracek, Hand, Thornley, Dwyer, Barlow, Fleming, Beharrell, Nash, Johnson.

Tickets for unreserved seats (half price for Oldham season-ticket holders) can be bought from Whitebank up to 4pm today.