Tom Ashton nears Oldham return

Tom Ashton‘s recovery from injury is progressing well, and the centre could soon be back in action for the Roughyeds after three-and-a-half months on the sidelines.

Ashton tore the ligaments in his left knee in his second game for Oldham against South Wales Scorpions in April.

“I’m stepping things up week by week and everything seems to be going to plan,” he said.

“I saw my specialist last week for the first time in a month and he was very happy about the amount of progress I was making.

“With a bit of luck I could be ready to make myself available for selection again by the middle of August, but it will be hard to break back into the side because they are all playing so well.”

Oldham coach Scott Naylor is hopeful that Ashton can make a big contribution to the team, but only when he is properly ready.

“If anybody deserves to make a full recovery from this sort of injury and to go on and enjoy a good career in the game it’s Tom,” he said.

“He’s getting close now to the big day. It could be two or three weeks away, depending on the outcome when we get our heads together with our physio and conditioner to decide when we think the time is right.

“We don’t want to rush him. He attitude and commitment to this fight has been absolutely first class. He’s working like mad.

“He’s back running with the squad now, but as well as that he’s spending a great deal of time with the physio on a rehab programme specially devised by our conditioner from Huddersfield, Kane Daniels.

“To hold down a day job and to be so totally committed to his specialist training and his rehab shows fantastic durability, but that’s what players do at Oldham when they are injured and out of the game for any length of time.”