Gregory could have to call on unwanted five

Boss John Gregory had hoped to strengthen his squad in the loan market yesterday after telling Josh Simpson, Conor Henderson, Brian Jensen, Lewis Young and Matt Harrold they had no future at the club.

But having missed out on his targets Gregory will almost certainly have to name Jensen, Henderson and Young in his matchday squad with Reds already without key players through injury and suspension.

Harrold and Simpson could also come into contention if they overcome injuries which ruled them out of the JP Trophy defeat to Gillingham on Tuesday, Gregory admitted the players he placed on the transfer list on Thursday “probably hate my guts” but expects them to perform professionally if required at Boundary Park.

He said: “Footballers never really play for a manager anyway. They play for themselves and for their families so if they are called on to play and don't do their best they will only be letting themselves down.”

Top scorer Izale McLeod serves a one-match ban today but Dean Leacock is available having sat out the defeat to Gillingham through suspension.

Gavin Tomlin has been passed fit after limping off on Tuesday with a hamstring injury while Marvin Elliott is not expected to return from a groin injury until the visit of Scunthorpe next weekend.

Oldham are without defender Genseric Kusunga who is on international duty with Angola but Carl Winchester could be on the bench despite being in the Northern Ireland squad for their European Championship qualifier in Romania last night.

Oldham (4-1-2-1-2, probable): Rachubka; B Wilson, Dieng, J Wilson, Mills; Kelly, Jones, Johnson; Philliskirk; Ibehre, Forte. Subs from: Etheridge, Lockwood, Winchester, Poleon, Tidser, Mellor, Truelove, Dayton, Tuohy, Brown, Bove.

Crawley (4-1-4-1, possible): Ashdown; Oyebanjo, Leacock, Walsh, Bradley; Keane; Edwards, Bawling, Smith, Dickson; Tomlin. Subs from: Jensen, Henderson, Young, Banya, O’Connor, Simpson, Harrold, Richefond, Isaacs.