KIERAN Gill, on loan from Castleford Tigers, will be back in contention for Oldham’s tough trek to Workington Town on Sunday in Betfred League 1.
In his third stint with Roughyeds across three seasons, centre Gill (22) enjoyed a try-scoring first game back against Keighley Cougars, but missed the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie against Hull KR because of a sore knee cap.
The Keighley game was his first in ten months after major surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“Gilly is okay now and he’ll be available to us for weekend,” said delighted head coach Scott Naylor after last night’s training session.
He was less enthusiastic when asked if the side would benefit at Derwent Park from the dual-reg agreement with Salford Red Devils.
Ryan Lannon, Levy Nzoungou and Daniel Murray, who has just signed a new two-year contract to extend his stay with the Red Devils, have previously helped out in Betfred League 1 games this season.
Murray played at prop in the 32-18 win against Keighley but, not for the first time in league matches this year, dual-reg players will not be available to Naylor at Workington.
“Unfortunately, that is again the situation,” confirmed the Roughyeds boss.
A final decision on Adam Neal, who was concussed against Keighley and missed the Hull KR cup-tie, will be made later.
Everyone else is fit, including winger Ben West, who has been out since he was concussed at Bradford Bulls on Good Friday a month ago.
In the Workington Town camp it hasn’t yet been confirmed whether latest signing Fuifui Moimoi will be available to debut or whether he is still waiting for his visa to come through.
Centre Scott Akehurst, however, is out with a leg injury after being carried off in last week’s 20-12 home win against North Wales Crusaders.
Coached this season by Leon Pryce, Town have been signing experienced men with pedigrees, like Oliver Wilkes, Karl Olstrom, Fuifui Moimoi and Ryan Bailey, although Bailey has already moved on to Leigh Centurions after only three months at Derwent Park.
Former Oldham half-back Scott Leatherbarrow is also at Town, but he didn’t play against Crusaders last time out after substituting in the previous game when the Cumbrians lost 27-20 at Hunslet after letting a 12-point lead slip away in the final quarter.
Having won four of their seven games, including the home defeat of Bradford Bulls, they have two points more than Roughyeds, who have a game in hand
