Lawton Blow as Long Offers Injury Update

In-form Roughyeds forward Adam Lawton faces an extended spell on the sidelines following confirmation that the 30-year-old broke a bone in his ankle against Keighley last weekend.

The try-scoring back row will discover the extent of the injury after seeing a consultant, but head coach Sean Long knows it might not be good news.

”He has broken his tibia or fibia" Long told Roughyeds TV.

“Obviously he will now see a consultant and he will be out for a while. He could be done for the year now but on the flip side of that it could be six weeks, or ten weeks, we don’t know.

“He’s been on fire, in the team of the month and scoring plenty of tries. Also his attitude will be a big loss, but we can bring Elijah Taylor into the back row which is not a bad replacement.”

Oldham’s preparations for Saturday’s trip to North Wales have seen a number of other key figures nursing injuries, including captain Jordan Turner who is ruled out with a knee injury. But Long insists that will allow exciting opportunities for other players to show their hunger and stake their claim.

“JT has twisted his knee. He misses out this week and that just means another lad can step into his shoes and will have the opportunity to keep the jersey now,” Long added.

“Mo Agoro is still struggling with his abdominal muscles which is unfortunate for Mo as he is a prolific try scorer for us and carries out of the back field really well, so we lose another one there.

“Ted Chapelhow I’m not sure. He took a pretty serious dead leg, and if you get one at the top of the knee it swells up, so we will give him the best possible chance.”

Better news for Oldham has seen the return to training of centre Ben O’Keefe and prop Pat Moran, with the former set to return to the side this weekend agaist an opponent that Long knows can be dangerous, following last season’s run to the League 1 playoff final.

“It is good to have them back and Ben will play this week. It might be a bit too soon for Pat after his knee injury as we don’t want to push him — we will need all our big guns firing at the business end of the season.

“North Wales have a strong backline and a decent pack so they will hang in there until the 80th minute so that is what we will have to do, and start fast.”