Workington Town will have more strength in depth when they travel to Newcastle for this afternoon’s League One clash against Thunder.
Coach Anthony Murray will have three middles back to boost the squad and is likelyb to go for a forward-loaded bench.
Skipper Stevie Scholey, prop Jordan Thomson and ex-Newcastle forward Jake Lightowler all return to the squad from injury.
Murray has also indicated that he is likely to use the returning Ciaran Walker at loose-forward, working with half-backs Carl Forber and Jarrod Sammut.
Although they have four players recently taken on loan, only two of them – Richard Lepori and Cian Tyrer – will be travelling to Newcastle.
There will be a debut, too, for Penrith rugby union club’s Cockermouth-based winger Brad Taylor who has been training with Town for a few weeks now and has impressed Murray and the coaching staff.
“We have been waiting to see when he would be available to play and with Penrith having no fixture this week-end it’s a perfect opportunity to take a look,” said Murray.
Newcastle have struggled in the 1895 Cup and their opening two League One games after a late decision to go again after initially resigning from the League. Last week they crashed 70-16 at Midlands Hurricanes.
Murray said: “I watched a video of that game and to be fair I thought the score did not reflect the fact that Newcastle had a real dig and never gave up. They have some good young players and the four from York are very good, particularly the former St. Helens hooker Taylor Pemberton.
“There should be no complacency from our lads and I am looking for a strong performance from the squad going over there and to get back to winning ways.”
The Workington squad is: Blain Marwood, Brad Taylor, Carl Forber, Chris Taylor, Cian Tyrer, Ciaran Walker, Grant Reid, Jake Bradley, Jake Lightowler, Jarrod Sammut, Jason Mossop, JJ Key, Johnny Hutton, Jordan Thomson, Liam McNicholas, Luke Charlton, Matty Henson, Richard Lepori, Sean Croston, Steve Scholey, Tyler Walton.
