NEIL ADAMS may make a surprise return for Athletic in Saturday's FA Cup, third-round tie at Preston. The midfield player was back in full training today, with manager Andy Ritchie declaring he is in with a chance for the cup clash. It was thought a comeback on Saturday would be premature following his three-week lay-off with a hamstring strain. But Adams has been working for the past week with physiotherapist Alex Moreno and is ahead of schedule. It was initially thought he might need a run-out in the reserves before returning to first-team action but, with such an important game this weekend, Athletic may call on his experience. There is also further cheer with the news that Craig Dudley is back in training and possibly in line for a cup place. The young striker, who has scored four goals in his last seven appearances, has missed the last three matches with a thigh strain. Ritchie said: "I am not saying at this stage that Neil and Craig will definitely play, but there is a strong possibility they will be in the squad. "Both players have worked hard with Alex over the last week and are now back in full training." The return of Adams and Dudley would give Ritchie more options going forward. That was Athletic's undoing at Preston when they lost 2-0 in the league last Saturday. Ritchie said: "The difference between the teams last Saturday was that Preston took their chances, and we didn't take ours. "We need to raise our game a little and if we get openings make sure we take them."

ELEVEN years after they were formed, Oldham Curzon Ladies are closing in on the pinnacle of women’s football. Oldham, with a record of played 10 won 10, are hot favourites to lift the North-West Combination League title. From there it’s on to the FA National League and the challenge of facing the likes of Doncaster Belles, Arsenal and Liverpool. That’s some progress considering the club’s short history. And secretary, David Ryan, is keeping his fingers crossed that come April, Oldham will be among the country’s elite. “We’re not getting carried away, it’s only Christmas, but it’ll take a nightmare run for us not to get promoted,” he said. “It would be a great achievement for the team to play at the top level, because they are all very talented footballers. “They deserve to be among the best, and they are unique in that they are a very young team who have grown up together at the club from the ages of 13 and 14.” The club’s origins owe much to Oldham Athletic’s football in the community programme. One of the many schemes to promote the game at that time was to organise courses specifically for women. The response to these courses on Boundary Park’s now-defunct Astroturf pitch led to Ryan and the present football in the community officer, John Platt, setting up a team. And it wasn’t long before they began to ruffle a few feathers.

Oldham’s first piece of league silverware was the North-West division four title. They went on to be crowned division three, two, and one champions which propelled them into the North-West Combination League. Nearly all the 18-strong squad are from Oldham, and four have attracted interest at national level. Hot-shot Kelly Dean is undoubtedly the star, with more than 250 goals in as many appearances for the club. That kind of strike-rate gave Dean the chance to perform on the international stage when she represented England under-18s in last season’s European Championships, in Belgium. Claire Harrop and Emma Gaynon are others with national experience, while Beth Sutcliffe is a member of the under-16s squad. The only blemish so far on an outstanding season was a 3-0 defeat by Blackpool in the Lancashire County Cup, a competition Oldham had won for the past three seasons. The Curzon Ashton-based club have 12 games to play following last weekend’s 5-0 win over Blackburn Rovers. Dean bagged a couple, while Zoe Raddy, Nicola Brown and Gaynon, with her 50th senior goal, grabbed one apiece. It would take a massive dip in form to deny them a place in the top echelon of women’s football.

So, how would they cope? “The standard is naturally quite high,” Ryan said. “It would be completely different from what they’ve faced before. “They would be competing with the best players in the country, but we, too, have players with plenty of talent. “If we do manage to get promoted, then I’m sure we’ll attract players from outside of Oldham. “The nearest team club in the National League is Garswood, in St Helens. After that it’s Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere.” Stockport away on Sunday is next up for Oldham (kick-off 2pm), and skipper Lesley English will be hoping to lead her side into the new Millennium with that remarkable record intact.