Town may be facing new loan signings

Sep 8 2005 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

WORRIED Oldham are desperately trying to counter a crop of injuries by making loan signings before Town's visit to Boundary Park on Saturday.

Centre-half Stefan Stam is likely to miss at least one more game with a hamstring problem, while on-loan goalkeeper Michael Poke has broken a finger and returned to Southampton.

From a squad of 23, Oldham are left with only 15 fit professionals ahead of Saturday's cross-Pennines derby.

Their worst shortage is at the back, and manager Ronnie Moore admitted there was an urgent need for new blood (eight `emergency' loans can be used outside the transfer windows).

Moore said: "We've got two centre-halves (Gareth Owen and Rob Scott) and just one keeper (Chris Day), so I'll have to see what I can find.

"We can make loan signings from today onwards, and it's a good job because we are definitely struggling.

"I'm concerned about defence because the lads who are missing are our strong players like Guy Branston, Will Haining and Chris Swailes.

"We've put ourselves under pressure with the last couple of results, and we could do with a big presence at the back."

Stam suffered a hamstring strain before the 2-1 defeat at Southend on Sunday.

He would have been a straight replacement for Branston, who himself was injured in the previous defeat against Rotherham.

Tough-tackling Branston, however, was giving it a go in training today and could return to do battle with Pawel Abbott and Co.

Southampton youngster Poke was on the bench at Roots Hall - but could only have been used in a crisis.

Should Moore be unable to recruit a loan keeper before Saturday, he will have 17-year-old youth team keeper Terry Smith on the bench against Town.

There is no chance of former Town loan striker Luke Beckett playing.

He was injured in a pre- season trip to the Isle of Man and it was feared he had suffered a recurrence of the ligament damage which previously kept him out for over 18 months.

Those fears seem to have been averted, however.

Meanwhile, Oldham must pay an initial fee of £25,000 to Bury for striker Chris Porter.

They must also pay further £25,000 amounts when he plays 15 and 30 matches.

Bury are entitled to compensation for the 21-year-old, who was out of contract but came through their youth system.

Oldham bid £20,000 - plus up to £10,000 extra, based on Porter's future scoring record - but the Shakers were seeking £100,000.