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Today's Edition for

          16th September 1999 

Today's Headlines

 Oldham Evening Chronicle
Thom poised for Athletic recall
STUART THOM is likely to win an instant recall for Athletic's league match at high-flying Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
The 22-year-old central defender made a problem-free return in the reserves last night after an injury lay-off. Thom, who played an hour of the reserve-team match against Huddersfield, broke his toe in the Worthington Cup-tie against Stockport. Andy Ritchie was impressed with Thom's form following his six-match absence and says he will definitely be in the squad for Saturday's match. 

The Athletic manager was more guarded about Richard Graham's prospects, even though he played the full 90 minutes in the reserves. Ritchie does not want to push Graham too hard, too soon after his near nine-month lay off. Graham was only pressed into first-team duty by necessity against Bury last Saturday as a replacement for the injured Shaun Garnett. Ritchie said: "Richard was only a stop-gap and helped us because of Shaun's injury. "I have spoken to him and he doesn't feel ready for the first team, and I am of the same opinion." Garnett is likely to be fit, though he is still in some discomfort from an abdominal strain. 

A scan has revealed major damage, which came as welcome news as Athletic feared he might face a long lay-off. Bristol Rovers have injury worries concerning all three members of their midfield. David Pritchard has a gashed leg while David Hillier and Ronnie Mauge have thigh strains. Left-wing back Trevor Challis returns after missing the Worthington Cup tie against Birmingham City because of a one-match ban. 

Athletic have rearranged their home match against Millwall for Tuesday, November 9. The game, originally scheduled for August 30, was postponed because Millwall had players away on international duty.

 Teamtalk Oldham
Permit clarification
The Latics are to ask the Department of Employment for clarification of Bury's signing of Asian player Baichung Bhutia. The 22 year old striker has been granted a work permit on appeal and will be the first Indian footballer to play in England. But the Latics had three appeals turned down when they tried to sign West Indian Keith Gumbs after FIFA ruled that his country St Kitts & Nevis were not in the top 70. India are ranked 119th, while St Kitts are 128th. Chief executive Alan Hardy explained: "There doesn't seem to be too much difference and I can't believe an Indian player is classed more highly than one from the Caribbean."
Garnett's tonic
Shaun Garnett, who has been suffering from a stomach muscle strain, has been informed he can carry on playing. He has undergone hospital scans which have revealed no further damage and now the former Tranmere Rovers defender is free to resume his career.

 Yahoo Football Oldham

Thom boost

The Latics are set to be boosted by the return of key defender Stuart Thom, who played in Wednesday night's reserve team game. The 23 year old has missed the last six outings after breaking a toe in only his first appearance of the season. But after Wednesday's second string action he declared there were no further problems. Thom played for an hour and did more than enough to show he is ready for an immediate comeback. He is now almost certain to be in the squad for Saturday's trip to Bristol Rovers. Fellow defender Richard Graham played the full 90 minutes of the 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town. It was only his second outing in nine months, following knee surgery. He reported no adverse effects.

Allott's ambitions

Mark Allott has said there is more to come, after grabbing the Latics first home goal of the season. The 20 year old, who was last season's top scorer with eight goals, pounced on a loose ball and struck his shot first time to send a screamer into the roof of the net and admitted after: "It was my best ever goal.
"The front men have taken a real hammering from the gaffer for not finding the target and I'm now hoping that my goal has helped us turn the corner and we can now start climbing up the league. "We are all in this together and we won't let our heads drop. The mood amongst the players has been brilliant from day one and we are confident that we can now kick start out season. "Scoring goals does wonders for confidence and it was good to finally get on the scoresheet. We have been creating chances all season but not putting them away. Now we have broke our duck there is no reason why we can't go on to bigger and better things."

Bristol Evening Post

David ready to play pain game

David Pritchard is ready to go through the pain barrier to be in Bristol Rovers’ side to face Oldham Athletic at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The midfield player was expected to do only light training today to protect the badly-gashed leg which saw him limp out of Tuesday’s Worthington Cup game at Birmingham. The knock left him with further damage to a shin which had been battle-scarred in the first round of the competition. “I was left with a gash pretty much all the way down my shin after the home game against Luton a few weeks ago,” said Pritchard. “The knock at Birmingham opened up some of that again and also left me with a new cut, which is still very sore. “It has improved a bit since Tuesday and at least I can walk now, because I was limping very badly after the match. “But we will have to see how it is tomorrow. If I can pad the injury well enough, then I would like to play.  “I don’t want to miss the game if it’s at all possible.

“A bad cut isn’t the sort of thing you can run off but if it’s a case of gritting my teeth, putting a pad on the leg and getting on with it, then I’m quite willing to do it.” Pritchard is the biggest worry of the three injury problems Rovers were left with from the 2-0 first leg defeat. David Hillier is expected to be cleared to face Oldham after sustaining a dead leg, while fellow midfield man Ronnie Mauge should have recovered sufficiently from a slight thigh strain. “We expect all of them to be OK,” said physio Phil Kite. A cheap bus scheme for fans going to Rovers’ weekend home games is to be extended. Bus firm First Cityline have been delighted with the response from fans, who can pay a child fare to get to the Memorial Stadium on production of a match ticket or Supporters’ Club card. The move is designed to try and cut traffic, parking and pollution problems in Horfield and will be in operation again for Saturday’s game against Oldham.

Rovers trio receiving treatment

BRISTOL ROVERS have injury worries about all three of their first-choice midfielders after the bruising battle with Birmingham City on Tuesday night. Physio Phil Kite was yesterday treating David Pritchard and Ronnie Mauge in a bid to get them fit to face Oldham at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Pritchard hobbled off in the 2-0 Worthington Cup second round first leg defeat at St Andrews with a nasty gash down his shin. Mauge suffered a thigh strain and is another likely to miss training today while the third member of the regular midfield trio, David Hillier, sustained a dead leg. Kite said he hoped Pritchard and Mauge would come through in time for Saturday. “Pritch had a big gash down his shin from a tackle just before half-time and then got clobbered again and the wound opened up,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll train on Thursday; it’s very sore and swollen at the moment. But he’s a tough lad and we’re keeping our fingers crossed.
“Ronnie had a slight thigh strain and was also in for treatment today but again we’re hopeful he’ll be ready for Oldham.”

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