21st December 2000  

Corrazin doubtful

ATHLETIC are playing down rumours that they want to sign Burnley’s Manchester-born fringe player Brad Maylett. Manager Andy Ritchie has carried out spying missions on the winger, who celebrates his 20th birthday on Christmas Eve. But the club insist no other steps have been taken to bring Maylett to Boundary Park and ease the club’s injury problems. Maylett is one of several players watched by Ritchie since Neil Adams, Athletic’s regular right winger, was injured last month. Adams suffered knee-ligament damage at Stoke City and is likely to be missing until January or later. Athletic have also lost Paul Jones and Barry Prenderville from the right-hand side, while Lee Duxbury is absent from midfield. The sudden surge in casualties has meant Paul Rickers filling at right-back and forced a central-midfield man to play out of position. 

Teamtalk Oldham

Andy Ritchie has admitted that Oldham can't afford to lose any more players through injury with eight games to be played in the next month. As the Latics go into the festive programme, Ritchie's main problem is a growing injury list with influential skipper Lee Duxbury, joint top-scorer Craig Dudley, defenders Paul Jones and Barry Prenderville and veteran midfielder Neil Adams all on the treatment table. Duxbury, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, is the only casualty who could make the trip to Brentford, but if there is even the slightest doubt he won't be risked. Ritchie explained: "With so many games coming up we can't afford to use players if they are not completely fit. This is the time of year when you need all the bodies you can get and we certainly can't afford to lose many more."

Andy Ritchie is confident the Latics can start to climb up the Division Two table following the disappointing FA Cup defeat to Peterborough. The Oldham boss has also told his players to forget about the midweek Cup exit at the hands of their Second Division rivals and believes they will have the spirit to bounce back when the Latics return to league action at Brentford on Saturday. He said: "It was a big blow to go out but it has gone now and we have to concentrate on other things. "We could have scored five or six in the second half and if we keep playing like that then there is no reason why we can't make an impression in the league. It is not all doom and gloom and our season is far from over." The Latics have lost just two of their last nine league games and Ritchie reckons there is still a lot to look forward to in the New Year. He explained: "If we can keep that run going there is no doubt that we will climb up the table. "We have been playing well and there is no reason why we can't become a force to be reckoned with."

The Latics' current injury problems has meant out-of-favour Mark Allott is expected to return to the first team starting line-up at Brentford. The 22-year-old striker, who finished last season as joint top-scorer, was a first choice at the start of the season, but he lost his place following the emergence of exciting young prospect Craig Dudley. Allott has recently been on the bench but he came on as sub for the injured Dudley in Tuesday night's FA Cup defeat by Peterborough, and he looks set to keep his place in Saturday's side for the trip to Brentford. Latics boss Andy Ritchie said: "I told him that if he was patient that his time would come. Now it is up to him whether he stays in the side and if he starts to score goals then it will be very difficult for me to leave him out.
"He did very well when he came on against Peterborough and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, forcing the 'keeper into a superb save. This is his chance - the rest is up to him." <

Official Oldham Athletic Web Site

Striker Carlo Corazzin missed training today due to a bout of sickness. Corazzin was confined to bed today and must be rated doubtful as the squad leaves for Brentford on Friday lunch time. With Craig Dudley definitely missing from tomorrow's squad both Matthew Tipton and Ryan Sugden have been drafted in.
 

Latics Physio Phil Stock has confirmed that Craig Dudley is likely to be missing for 3 weeks during which time Latics have 6 games scheduled to take place. As with Lee Duxbury's similar injury Dudley will not be rushed back into action too soon.
 

22-year old Mark Innes is currently enjoying his longest unbroken run in the First Team which now totals ten consecutive matches, yet Innes, who left Scotland whilst still only 15 to join Latics, has established a regular spot in an unfamiliar position.

Normally a left sided midfield player, Innes has moved back to forward his career and is now starring at left back.

Innes, who surprisingly has been on the transfer list the past year, reveals some of his secrets.

BIGGEST GAME: "Without question it was the last game of the 1998/99 season when we had to beat Reading at home to stay up. If the club had dropped into the Third Division it would have been a disaster when you bear in mind we were in the Premiership when I joined the club. I scored our first goal, my one and only league goal so far, and made the second in our 2-0 win, so I have special reason to remember it".

HIS NEW ROLE: "I am enjoying playing left back and since I came into the team we have been doing well and, importantly for a defender, we have kept a few clean sheets. First and foremost my job is to defend and that is something I am trying to learn as quickly as possible as before I used to be an attacking midfield player. Now primarily it is about defending, though I still try to get forward whenever I get the chance".

TOUCHEST OPPONENT: "When we played one Reserve Team match against Manchester Utd I was up against Roy Keane who was returning from injury. In the second team I also came across Paul Scholes, Andy Cole and John Sheridan when he was at Sheffield Wednesday".

FUTURE GOALS: "They say it is easy to get in the team, but the hardest job is to stay there. This is my longest run in the First Team and I am hoping to remain in the side because there is nothing worse than being in and out of the team.