It means Facey, Chris Hay and Ben Thornley are in line for starts while Rob Edwards, Simon Baldry and David Beresford are added to the squad. "We are down to the bare bones and this really is 'opportunity knocks' for our squad players," said Bruce, who believes Gallen could be available in a couple of weeks. "Delroy, Jon Dyson and Scott Sellars did tremendous jobs as subs the other day and I know there are other players champing at the bit to get a chance. "Obviously we want to do well tonight - I'd be much happier if it was just a one-leg match - because the Cup can create a great deal of interest. "You've only got to look back a year to that tremendous night at Chelsea to realise with a good run can do for you. "We are certainly going over to Oldham to attack, so I hope the lads who come in go out and express themselves. "We've played well in both our matches so far and if we reproduce that form tonight then there will be no complaints from me."

Kevin Gray has been hit by a bout of food poisoning and is having further tests to try and clear the problem. Striker Smith is not being risked tonight but Bruce is very hopeful his two-goal hero of the weekend will be ready to face Crystal Palace at the McAlpine on Saturday. Oldham (probable) - Kelly, Adams, Jones, Hotte, Garnett, Holt, Duxbury, Rickers, Innes, Allott, Corazzin. Subs (from): Miskelly, McNiven, Boshell, Tipton, Whitehall.

Town (probable) - Vaesen, Heary, Lucketti, Armstrong, Vincent, Irons, Holland, Thornley, Hay, Wijnhard, Facey. Subs (from): Dyson, Margetson, Sellars, Baldry, Beresford. 

After a fairly dull opening 20 minutes, where both sides looked tentative going forward, Oldham finally managed to break the deadlock in the 24th minute through summer signing Carlo Corazzin. Huddersfield had just started to show signs of getting on top in the game with Ben Thornley in particular looking Town's most dangerous player, when Oldham suddenly struck against the run of play. Armstrong was robbed in the centre of the park and Oldham took full advantage of the gap he left. Neil Adams picked the ball up and crossed to Carlo Corazzin, and the former Northampton player came up with a fine header to beat Nico Vaesen and give the Latics the lead. The goal seemed to give Oldham confidence which grew as the half went on and there were shouts for a penalty when Neil Adams was brought down in the area. However, the ref. waved away the appeals to deny Oldham the chance to extend their lead. Huddersfield continued to look devoid of ideas and hardly tested Kelly at all in the opening 45 minutes, the closest they came was through Chris Hay who headed just wide of the target.

John Sheridan will be out for three weeks after undergoing surgery for a niggling knee problem. The 35-year-old aggravated the injury in the opening day win over Port Vale. The joint swelled and it was decided that the only answer was to have key hole surgery. Sheridan went into hospital late on Monday and had the knee washed out. He can't resume training for another 10 days and is expected to miss six games. The veteran's unavailability will inevitably come as a blow to the Latics, but it was felt that if he played on and caused further damage he would have risked being out for months rather than weeks.

An international call will rule new signing Carlo Corazzin out of a game next month. The Canadian striker will miss the home fixture against Notts County on Saturday, September 2 as he will be playing for his country against Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifier the following day. Another player on international duty that weekend is reserve team keeper David Miskelly. He is in the Northern Ireland under-21 side for a UEFA Championship qualifier in Belfast. That game is on a Friday night and Miskelly will fly back on Saturday morning in time to take his place on the bench for the Notts County game. 

The Club has learnt today that Richard Graham has been told by the Specialist that he has to retire from the game, or become permanently crippled. lan Hardy, Chief Executive said, "Everyone associated with Oldham Athletic will be saddened by the news that Richard has to give up the game." He has been with the club since he was a boy and has grown up with many of the staff here, not just the players." Hopefully he will be able to find another rewarding career, perhaps in the game. I am sure that the directors will look sympathetically on any request for a testimonial - he was a firm favourite here and, but for injury, would have enjoyed a successful playing career."