SCOTT Naylor described Oldham’s performance in a 24-16 home defeat by Hunslet as “unacceptable” and “not good enough”.

Oldham have now lost three of their first five Betfred League 1 games and in urgent need of a return to form when they take on Keighley Cougars at the Vestacare on Sunday (3pm) ahead of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth round tie against Hull KR, which will now take place at Stalybridge Celtic’s Bower Fold on Sunday, April 22.

“It needs sorting out,” said a furious Naylor after seeing Roughyeds throw away a 16-6 lead midway through the second half.

Even at that stage the home side should have gone 22-6 ahead, but Craig Briscoe was judged to have lost the ball in the act of scoring a fourth Oldham try under the posts.

Said Naylor: “From a position of ten points to the good at home we shouldn’t be losing. We should be kicking on and winning comfortably.

“That’s nothing to do with structure, the coach or with match officials, it’s down to the players and whether they want to finish the game and win it the right way.

“We need to have a good, long look at ourselves and decide what we want from this season. I want promotion. The players need to decide if they do. What we dished up was a huge disappointment. For whatever reason we are producing average performances.

“It’s not acceptable, not good enough and it needs sorting out. I take responsibility for it and I’ll take all the criticism I expect to get but the players have also to act like grown men and do exactly the same.”

Meanwhile, Oldham have announced the signings on a month’s loan of two young players from Wakefield Trinity, Luke Hooley and Lee Kershaw.

Hooley (19), a goalkicking full-back, is no stranger to the Roughyeds, having played six Championship Shield games on loan for Scott Naylor’s men at the end of last season.

Kershaw (18), a winger, has been at Trinity since he was 15 after previously playing age-group rugby union for West Yorkshire and then amateur rugby league with Keighley Albion and Eastmoor Dragons.

Both teenagers are fulltime professionals at Trinity and are named in the Betfred Super League club’s first-team squad. They start training with Oldham tonight (Thursday) and both will be in contention for Sunday’s home game against Keighley Cougars at the Vestacare Stadium and available for the following Sunday’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth-round tie against Hull KR.

Hooley played in six of Oldham’s seven Championship Shield games at the back end of last season.

“I really enjoyed my time at Oldham,” he said.

“It was great experience for me and it’s good to be back. I’m really looking forward to playing some regular rugby again.”

Naylor has welcomed the pair's arrival.

He said: "We needed more backs and we now have more competition generally in the backs and specifically on the wing, which is something we didn't really have.

"With a bit of luck Ben West should have come through his back-to-play protocol by weekend (for players who have suffered head injuries and concussion) so I'll have some selection decisions to make.

"It's good of Wakefield to help us out and I would like to thank them. 

"Luke Hooley played for us in the Championship at the back end of last season and he was very good. We know what he is capable of and, from his point of view, he will be very comfortable with us, having been here before.

"Lee Kershaw comes highly recommended by Wakefield, who are confident he will do a good job for us."

Kieran Gill is also back at Oldham. The 22-year-old Castleford Tigers centre, fully fit and ready to play after the reconstruction of his left knee, has rejoined Roughyeds on a month's loan.

It will be his third stint with Oldham, for whom he scored eight tries in 12 appearances in 2016 and five tries in nine outings in 2017.

He then returned to his parent club only to suffer a serious knee injury on a try-scoring Super League debut against St Helens on June 4 last year.

Gill had a full knee reconstruction and has spent the last ten months building up to his first game back, which will be in Oldham colours.

Said Gill: "I don't know how it all came about but when I knew there was a chance of going back to Oldham I jumped at it. I didn't hesitate.

"I'm ready to play and I can't wait. I'm hoping to play on Sunday, but that's not down to me. I'll be back training with Oldham on Thursday night. I've been waiting ten months for my first game back and, to be honest, I feel as confident as ever.

"Before all my rehab even started I promised myself I would be back bigger, better and stronger and I'll be out to prove that when I get back on the field.

"It will be my third spell at Oldham and that in itself says a lot about what I think of the club.

"They're a great bunch of lads, Scott and the staff are first-rate and the fans re amazing."

Naylor  said: "We know all about Kieran and he knows all about us. He can play centre or wing so he'll add to our options, which is exactly what we need.

"He hasn't played for a while, but he's been training with a top Super League club -- not any Super League club, but the one which topped the league and then reached the Grand Final.

"He won't be match fit, but he'll be generally fit and very strong and he'll be dying to play rugby again after ten months out.

"On top of that, he knows our structures and our systems because he's played a lot of games for us. It should be a very smooth transition for him."