Welcome
to today's issue of
BOUNDARY
BULLET-zine
The
Daily On-line e-zine for 152
Oldham Athletic Supporters
Worldwide
Today's
Edition for
9th February 2000
Today's Headlines
Oldham
Evening Chronicle
Thom's
first step on comeback trail
STUART
THOM is set to begin his Athletic comeback tonight with a low-key appearance
for the reserves.
The
big defender will be on the bench for the Manchester Senior Cup tie at
Bury, four months to the day since he suffered his freak injury. Thom's
collarbone was broken in the first-team match against Luton when he was
flattened by on-rushing goalkeeper Gary Kelly.
Recovery
has been a long and painful process for the 23-year-old, whose troubled
season has also included a fractured toe. Thom will almost certainly play
a part in tonight's match, even though he won't start it.
Also
among the subs will be Phil Salt, the 20-year-old midfielder who is highly
rated by Athletic's management. Salt has been absent since August due to
a groin injury and ankle-tendon problems, the latter leading to a complex
operation. Manager Andy Ritchie said: "Stuart and Phil have been out for
a long time and it takes a while to get over these things. "They are at
least a couple of weeks away from being considered for the first team,
but it's good to have them back as part of the set-up."
Craig
Dudley and Paul Beavers will play up front at Gigg Lane as they bid for
recalls of their own. Both have recovered from injury and _aware that Ritchie
could yet sign a striker on loan _ are out to prove they are sharp enough
to meet Gillingham this weekend. Athletic's priority tonight is improving
the fitness of their walking wounded.
As
a result, Australian trialists Peter Mihalopoulos, who scored for the reserves
last week, and Kon Antoniou have not been considered. Both players are
still at Boundary Park, but it looks unlikely that anything will come of
their spells in England. Victory in tonight's game (7pm kick-off) would
put Athletic in pole position to reach the Manchester Senior Cup final
for the second year running.
Reserves:
Miskelly, Tait, Smith, Graham, Jones, Futcher, Innes, Boshell, Walsh, Beavers,
Dudley. Subs: Campbell, Thom, Salt, Roberts, Sugden.
Teamtalk
Oldham
Trio
consider options
David
McNiven, Ian Swan and Ian McLean have been offered chances with Ross County,
Leigh and Telford respectively. All three players are being allowed to
leave the club on free transfers. McNiven is being offered an open ended
trial, Swan is being taken for two games whilst McLean has been offered
a similar deal to Swan at Conference outfit Telford. Chief Executive Alan
Hardy said: "The offers are on the table and it is now up to the players
to decide if they want to follow up their interest."
Beavers
to emerge
Paul Beavers
is set to be handed the chance to emerge from the Boundary Park shadows
tonight as he takes to the field against Bury. The Latics injury jinxed
striker is to be thrown in the firing line for a Manchester Senior Cup
tie against Bury tonight and the 21 year old has said: "I'm sick of setbacks.
Hopefully this time everything is going to fall into place. "I am here
to play football and that is what I want to do." Beavers has made just
two starts all season and knows he has a point to prove, saying: "I am
hoping to finish the season strongly by getting into the first team as
soon as I can." Meanwhile, strike partner Craig Dudley, who has had a foot
problem, has also been named in the line up whilst Phil Salt and Stuart
Thom have been named on the bench.
Contributions
and letters should be sent to Gary
Davies by e-mail at [email protected]Boundary
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