Barlow to start?

Scott Vernon is currently on loan for Colin Hendry’s side, and scored 3 goals in 4 games for the Seasiders. Vernon’s loan deal expires the day of the Blackpool encounter, and he will not feature for either team on Sunday.

JJ is suspended for the game, but is on international duty with Jamaica so could not have played anyway. Rodney Jack has received an international call up for St. Vincent, and therefore is another striker that cannot play for Latics on Sunday.

That leaves John Eyre, Matty Barlow, Matthew Wolfenden or the out of favour Wes Wilkinson as candidates to partner Chris Killen up front.

Brian Talbot only mentioned Eyre and Barlow as possibilities up front, which casts doubt on whether Wilkinson has a future at Boundary Park.

17-year old Barlow has netted four times in three times for the reserves, and has made eight substitute appearances this campaign. Whereas whether Eyre partners Killen may depend on Oldham’s situation in midfield, as Mark Bonner pulled out of the reserves game yesterday because he was unwell. His illness is apparently unrelated to his present hamstring injury.