Friday 31st March 2000 : Oldham preview and early team news

There has been a improvement in the injury situation ahead of this weekend's trip to Oldham. As reported here yesterday, club physio Ken Steggles has confirmed that left-back Clive Wilson and midfielder Neil Mustoe are both back in full training and Wilson looked strong and showed no ill-effects from his reserve team comeback on Wednesday afternoon. Skipper Paul Wanless is also back in full training after a thigh problem, although Neil Mackenzie is very doubtful with a knee injury.

There is some confusion over on-loan midfielder Jon Hunt, who arrived from Sheffield United last week with a slight ankle injury. Steggles confirmed that the player is back in full training but Roy McFarland has indicated that the player may still be feeling the effects of his injury, so whether this is kiddology ahead of tomorrow's game is not clear.

Speaking to Will Jones for yesterday's On The Spot interview for U's Net, McFarland answered fans' questions about his deadline day signings by repeating that he has tried all season to sign an experienced, commanding centre half and has been unsuccessful. He also revealed that he has tried and failed for the moment to sign a centre-forward but, while pointing out that "beggars can't be choosers", he added that he signed Hunt because he is a player who will score goals from midfield.

The manager also singled out Oldham's experienced midfielder John Sheridan as their key man tomorrow and has hinted that there may be a change of formation to nullify the veteran midfielder who pulled all the strings during Oldham's win at the Abbey earlier this season.

"I'm not one for changing our system to deal with one particular player, but I think in this case this player's very influential to Oldham and their football," he told the Cambridge Evening News. "He's the hub, he's the fulcrum as regards where their attacks start from, and I think if we can shackle him and close him down as quickly as possible then that might give us the opportunity to get at them.

"What we're really good at is attacking them, and I think if we can do that and get John Sheridan on the back foot and defending around their box, rather than creating from the midway line, then I think we'll nullify Oldham a little bit."

With a lack of available forwards - Trevor Benjamin is suspended and Tom Youngs in injured - I speculated yesterday that McFarland might make the most of a potential glut of fit midfielders to play a 4-5-1 system supporting John Taylor as the lone striker. However McFarland has indicated strongly that 18-year-old Nathan Lamey will start his second game and from his comments about attacking Oldham some reports speculate that he might prefer to revert to a cavalier 4-3-3 line-up with Lamey and either Zema Abbey or John Hansen alongside Taylor.

McFarland told today's CEN, "Nathan's been doing very well all season and he deserves his chance to have an extended run in the first team."

Meanwhile the injured Tom Youngs has confirmed that his injury is to his calf and not a torn hamstring as reported in the CEN, and he hopes to back in contention for the Bristol Rovers match next week.

Oldham have problems of their own with striker Craig Dudley and Richard Grahams both doubtful starters, while manager Andy Ritchie has demanded a good finish to the season from his mid-table side, despite the play-offs being out of reach.