NEW loan signing Kieran Gill is out of Oldham’s fifth-round Challenge Cup clash with Super League’s Hull KR.
Parent club Castleford Tigers have pulled him because the 22-year-old centre has a problem with a knee cap.
His try-scoring Oldham debut in last Sunday’s 32-18 win over Keighley Cougars was his first game back after major surgery to reconstruct his left knee.
Said Roughyeds boss Scott Naylor:
“Cas pulled him out but I think it’s precautionary.
“I don’t know whether he got a knock against Keighley or it’s something he’s done in training, but ten months is a long time out and I suppose you’re very lucky if you don’t feel anything first game back.”
Prop Adam Neal is also unlikely to play. After leaving the field with concussion midway through the second half of the Keighley game, he was due to have a head test on Saturday morning.
He didn’t train last night, however, and Naylor is more or less resigned to the fact that he won’t be ready for Sunday.
Keighley’s Josh Tonks, who was involved in the tackle on Neal, has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Match Review Panel.
They concluded that Neal was taken to the ground legally, but there could have been a clash of heads.
Even though Gill and Neal were not involved last night — and there will be no dual-reg personnel this week — Naylor said he still had 23 players training.
He added:
“I’ve still got a good bunch of lads to choose from.”
