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LEE WINGFIELD

LEE Wingfield has been given the best possible incentive to battle back from major knee surgery -- a new one-year contract with Oldham and the opportunity to play in a side expected to be challenging for the NL2 championship in 2008.
 
"I'm chuffed, absolutely made up to be given another chance," said the 26-year-old former BARLA Great Britain international back-row man after he had put pen to paper on his new deal
 
Desperately unlucky since he turned pro for Oldham from Leigh East on a two-year deal in December, 2005, Wingfield has played only 19 games in seasons 2006 and 2007 -- 15 in his first year and four more last season.
 
"I've done well to get a new contract with so few games under my belt in my first two years," added Lee.
 
"The truth is I rejected approaches from other NL2 clubs before I knew whether Oldham wanted to re-sign me. For me it was Oldham or nobody, and I told Chris Hamilton (chief executive) that when we talked about me staying.
 
"Had Oldham not made me a new offer I would have gone back to play with mates at Leigh East. Oldham gave me my big chance and although I have not had the best of luck they have stuck by me. I will always remember that. 
 
"I have a lot of work to do on my rehab following a total reconstruction of my right knee. I'm ahead of schedule, but it's a long job and I have to do as I am told. I won't be rushing things. I don't want to be a liability again in 2008. 
 
"The specialists reckon six months from the operation to playing again, so I will miss a lot of the Northern Rail Cup. But I aim to work hard and to get super fit -- that's my goal."
 
Coach Steve Deakin described the Leigh lad as the unluckiest player he had ever been associated with as a coach.
 
And he went on to remind supporters of the Wingfield catalogue of setbacks that have haunted the player in the past two seasons.
 
Said Deaks: "He was playing well in his first year until he was sent off and ultimately banned for a rash challenge at Hull KR. The week before he was free to make his comeback after the suspension he suffered a fractured eye socket in a freak accident that had nothing to do with rugby.
 
"He missed the rest of that season, but he had a good pre-season in the run-up to the 2007 campaign, showed good form early on - particularly at Dewsbury -- and then smashed up his knee big style in a harmless-looking challenge at Swinton. Once again, he was ruled out for the rest of the season and this time he needed major surgery to repair the cruciate ligament and reconstruct the knee.
 
"He needs better luck in 2008, but if he can get that he can be a very useful member of the squad and I am sure his pro career can take off."