OLDHAM RL Club’s capture of half-back Dan Abram from Rochdale Hornets took the numerical strength of the squad assembled so far for the 2020 Betfred Championship to 20.

Coach Matt Diskin would like to top it up with three or four more and he says the club is trying hard to bring in more recruits.

The players already under lock and key can be split into backs, half-backs and forwards but several can switch between backs and forwards at a pinch, so the situation is not entirely crystal clear.

They are – BACKS: Kyran Johnson, Declan Kay, James Worthington, Cameron Leeming, John Hutchings, Harry Aaronson, Dan Abram.

FORWARDS: Danny Langtree, Danny Bridge, Gareth Owen, Jack Spencer, Jode Sheriffe, Matty Wilkinson, Phil Joy, Liam Bent, Ed Smith, Ben Davies.

HALF-BACKS: Dave Hewitt, Lewis Charnock, Adam Brook.

Flexibility and versatility will be key and in that regard Diskin has numerous options.

Johnson, Kay, Worthington and Hutchings can all play wing, centre and full-back.

Aaronson can go in at wing or full-back and Abram, also a goal kicker of some repute, can operate equally well at full-back, half-back and hooker.

In the forwards Jack Spencer can play prop, second-row and loose; Danny Langtree has always looked comfortable when asked to fill-in at centre and Liam Bent will offer his phenomenal tackling machine wherever he plays.

Diskin recognises the value of versatility to any team or squad, especially one light on numbers, but having said that he requires more good players yet to have a squad that he feels is right to compete in the Championship.

“We’re trying hard to recruit, but entering the market so late makes it tough,” he said. “We’re still four or five away from having the right-sized squad to compete in the Championship but it’s nothing I wasn’t aware of when I got to the club.

“We knew we were starting late and had to be a bit creative and there’s still a couple of months yet before the season starts.

“What I would say is that the quality of the squad is there, if not the numbers.”