It's a tough situation isn't it but I suppose it's better to have these problems then having no options in the first place.

I'm like you a huge fan of Phelps in the fullback position and he could go on to be an absolute gem in the position but I actually think we may have to pull him out of that spot and put him at left centre if we're to keep Ainscough. We simply can't afford to lose him and if that means Phelps playing a season at centre I think we'd have to roll with that. He could then be moved back to fullback when one of Roberts or Richards moves on.

It isn't ideal moving Phelps out of that fullback position though.

Another option would be to put Roberts at centre. He's played there in the past and would obviously bring a huge attacking threat from there but the question would have to be asked if his defence would be upto it.

Theres some thinking for Maguire to do over the next few months but one thing is for sure we have an embarrasment of riches in the outside back positions at the moment.

Natural finisher, and who knows how many he might have scored on Friday for us?



But in all seriousness, let him stay at Cas til the end of season barring any major injuries to our backline of Phelps, Richards and Amos and then bring him back for next season and let him fight for a place in the back 3.

Afterall, you cannot leave a player out with a try record like that for too long before he wants to leave the club and joins one of our rivals on a permanent deal.

There are several ways in IMO. One is by squad rotation. Even in the backs I think if we carry on playing this really hard physical game we have started the season off with then if we stick with the first 17 barring injury or suspension (as Noble would have done) they will run out of steam by the end of the competition.

On Mike's board there is one well connected poster who insists Feka was not dropped but rotated and he will be back in v Bradford (so that will be interesting to see). I also think under a different coach HH's minor shoulder problem may have seen him selected with a pain killing injection.

I think we will see players come in for uninjured players r [layers with minor knocks like HH over the course of the season in a way we have not been used to seeing.

There is also another possibility and this is Roberts form on the wing drops off or Aincough "does an O'Carroll" and rips it up in training so he simply deserves a run out in the first team. The way some people seem to be posting Roberts place in the team is sacrosanct. I thought we were pleased we had ditched a coach who took that sort of view for one that ran a meritocracy?

I also don't like the idea of a season long lone for Ainscough for two reasons. First he will score a bag full of ties for one our rival teams and even if it is against our other rivals it will help Cas up the table. More importantly it sends the wrong message to Ainscough who might start to believe mischievous journalists that he doesn't have a future at the club.

Dave

I get your point but even squad rotation isn't going to get Ainscough enough games imo to make calling him back from Cas(well not extending his loan) worthwhile.

He needs to play every week imo because he's a special talent. It just so happens we have 2 wingers who are even better then him already at the club but his time will come. I hope we keep him at Cas unless somebody picks up an injury and let him develope there. He will play every week and be able to work on his minor flaws.

He's in the best place at this minute in time but hopefully we can sort him out a spot intime for next season.

I agree with this. Ainscough will be getting good SL experience under a good coach at Cas.

I personally think it is looking increasingly obvious that two of his team mates fighting for the same position (Goulding and Pryce) won't be here next season and that if he works on his concrete feet in defence he'll be in the 19 next season.

He does look like having an automatic jump up of 2 places next year with Goulding and Pryce both not cracking any pots(fair play to Gouldings attitude by the way but he just doesn't look quite good enough) so that can be a comfort to him in his time at Cas.

I'd back him to get 20 trys for Cas this year and if he does that his confidence will be sky high. All Wigan need to do is to make sure they keep in regular contact with him and make him feel part of this club still and make sure he knows he has a future.

I agree with that NK. Ainy just needs to be assured that he is a major part of our plans. He's only 20..it's not like it's 'now or never'!

I do feel the club (and in particular IL) are aware of this sort of thing though. IL has been a fan for as long, or longer, than just about anyone on this board and, as such, seems to have similar views. I'm confident he will no more want to lose Ainscough than any of us!

On a side note about another loan player the majority of the Widnes fans have Liam Farrell down as man of the match of their site from yesterdays 72-10 win over Keighley.

He scored a try and was a constant menace down the flanks for them they said and got through tonnes of defence in his 80mins on the pitch.

Sounds very promsing and he again is a player thats in the right place. He's always available to be called back if needs be but for at least the next few months i'd expect to see him tearing it up at Widnes.

A friend (Wigan season ticket holder) rang me yesterday. I was praising Ainscough for his catching of the high balls and the way he took his tries, but was critical of his air shot and I believed he should have gone for the corner instead of kicking infield.

He made an astute observation which I had missed. He said "But did you notice that when he took those high balls he never actually got off the ground. Against a taller wingman he would have struggled."

I honestly hadn't noticed, did anyone else?

Will watch it again later but i dont think he was under pressure of anyone so why risk jumping.

Yes I noticed hence the concrete feet remark - he never seems to get off the ground. I think part of it is that he always wants to catch the ball, when sometimes it might be better just to play safe, compete and knock the ball dead. It's his biggest area to work on for me but I think it should be easily remedied and doesn't mask the fact he's got that x-factor that means he'll score a lot of tries.

I make no secret of being a big fan of Ainscough, and to be honest i think we'll probably end up losing him. He keeps getting passed on from club to club and scoring loads of tries wherever he goes, I bet he'd get a run at most other top SL clubs.