POINTS-MACHINE Paul Crook has warned that Oldham’s big-game start to Betfred League 1 at Whitehaven on Sunday (3pm) will be even tougher than expected.

The Roughyeds’ 31-year-old new boy, signed to rack up the goals, kick opponents to death in general play and run the show as midfield maestro, has inside knowledge of the Cumbrians, having starred for them at the Recreation Ground last season.

He said: “A lot of teams go up there with a bit of trepidation and they feed off that by making it uncomfortable for visiting teams. They won’t make it easy for us, that’s for sure.

“They’re a big set of lads and they like to get in your face right from the start. It’s always like that but, as I discovered this time last year, there’s another factor right now and that’s the state of the pitch. At best, it’s going to be very heavy going indeed and probably very cold too.

“That makes it even tougher and more inhospitable than usual.

“I know the pitch inside out so that should help a bit when it comes to putting boot to ball, but we have to prepare for the forwards to slog it out.” There couldn’t be a better introduction to League 1 though because it will be a real test of our credentials to do well this year. It will be good to get it out of the way early and to see what it tells us.”

Head coach Scott Naylor isn’t fazed by the weight of expectation.

He said: “Let’s go up there with determination and self-belief and see what happens. If we win it will be a great start to the season, If we lose, it won’t be the end of the world because it’s the first game of the season.”

Of his 21 contracted players thus far, only Ben Davies (back) and club captain Gareth Owen (foot) are unavailable for day one.

“Everyone else is training,” added the boss. “Gaz Owen is still on the slow burner, but apart from him and Davies, we’re all OK and that was always how it was planned for the first weekend of the season.”

Meanwhile, Oldham’s first competitive home game will be a third-round Challenge Cup clash with Yorkshire amateurs Featherstone Lions over the weekend of February 24 and 25 after the draw was made on Tuesday.