Oldham expect trio to get all-clear

Gareth Owen

OLDHAM are confident that Gareth Owen, Gary Middlehurst and Jack Spencer will be fit for the seven all-important Championship Shield games, if not for Sunday's final game of the regular season against Workington Town at Bower Fold (3pm).

Owen (hamstring), Middlehurst (broken finger) and Spencer (shoulder) are each hoping to be ready for this weekend, but nothing will be decided until they have had fitness tests towards the end of the week.

The first Shield game will be on Sunday, August 7, providing for a free weekend at the end of the month and an opportunity for the walking wounded to get ready for the business end of the season.

Scans have shown there is no structural damage to Spencer's shoulder and he is expecting an injection to clear up his discomfort.

HOSPITAL

Middlehurst went back to hospital today and hopes to be given the all-clear.

Owen said: "I'll have a better idea of my chances for Sunday when I see what I can, or can't, do in training tomorrow."

Of the bottom five clubs, only Workington won this weekend so Oldham maintain their three-point advantage outside the bottom two.

They can't catch Dewsbury Rams, but if they beat Workington and other results favour them, they could end the regular season fifth bottom above the two Cumbrian clubs, Sheffield and Swinton.

It might be considered more advantageous, however, for Sheffield to win at Whitehaven, thus opening up a five-point gap between Oldham and Whitehaven, each with the seven Shield games to come.

ORSA's buffet and hospitality package at Oldham v Workington on Sunday is sold out.