JOHN Kear has warned his Bulls side to be on full alert at second-from-bottom Oldham tomorrow.

The Roughyeds have won only twice this season – a poor run which saw Matt Diskin leave the club.

But Brian McDermott’s arrival this week as Oldham’s coaching consultant after a year out the game has raised eyebrows – and got Kear on his guard for the Bower Fold clash.

“They are a physical team, they are desperate and dangerous,” he said. “You add that to a new coach coming in and it really does make it a banana skin.

“It’s something we’ve got to try to address and overcome.

“Brian is a mate of the chairman there and sometimes you do a favour for your friends.

“But I’m pretty certain he’s going to make an impression. I just hope it takes two or three weeks to do so.

“We’re going to prepare for a reaction to Brian McDermott being appointed. I’m sure the Oldham players will want to put their best foot forward.

“I am absolutely delighted to see Brian back. He’s too good a coach to be out of the game.

“I like his views. He’s a very honest and forthright character.

“I wish him well but not until after we’ve played them!”

The Bulls remain in “make do and mend” mode after losing Jordan Lilley with a cracked rib.

It is the latest in a catalogue of injuries to hit the club this season and means another reshuffle at half back, where they are already missing key playmaker Danny Brough.

Hull KR have at least agreed to extend Joe Keyes’ loan spell by a further week – and the Bulls will be desperate to hang on to him for a longer term.

Kear added: “Hopefully we’ll keep him for a number of weeks but that’s in the hands of Hull Kingston Rovers. It’s a good job we’ve got him this week or I don’t know who we’d be going with.

“We’re trying all sorts at training but it’s not as easy as when you’ve got two half backs well versed in the craft.

“You’re having to manufacture combinations and sometimes they just don’t click as we’ve found previously. We’ve got to try to do it again.

“We’re putting someone in there under pressure to perform in a position that they are not always comfortable in. It’s tough because whoever you play in this division will challenge you.”

Kear had to work hard to bring back Keyes to his former club and admitted landing another short-term recruit was out of the question.

“Find me any players and I’ll try to bring them in. There aren’t any in the game because of Covid issues and injuries – there are none around.”