FOOTBALL - Force in dilemma over Oso injury

An injury to Sammy Oso gives North Force coach Dean Wheatley a selection dilemma ahead of North Force's vital home match against Waitakere City at Tikipunga tomorrow.
While Oso will undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he can play in the match, the possibility wasn't rated highly yesterday by Wheatley, who now has to find a striker to cover his position.
"Sammy's still got some swelling on his knee which makes him doubtful, that's a bit of a blow for us but we'll have to decide what to do if he is out," Wheatley said.
North Force has plenty of options to mull over but with the importance of the match - Waitakere are third in the league just one point adrift of North Force - means the selection panel are unlikely to tinker too much with the established starting line-up.
"It's going to be a big game and I imagine we'll start the game as slight underdogs, they'll expect to come up here and beat us but hopefully we can do the job," he said.
Isaac Jerez stood in for Oso, in his absence at the beginning of the season, is available this week after returning from suspension. It may be the opportunity the striker is waiting for but if he is selected, it will surely provoke some nerves on the sideline for the coaching staff. Jerez has been red-carded twice already this season - both for run-ins with the referee and a repeat performance could spell disaster in such a crunch match.
Young Murray Wootten is another option for Wheatley but he has limited first-team playing time under his belt. He almost scored with his first touch last weekend after coming on as a second half substitute and although he acquitted himself well in the match, there are still question marks over his experience at this level.
Whoever gets the nod the team needs a good performance, a week ahead of their first Chatham Cup tie against Manurewa next weekend, a fixture that is followed by their pivotal US1 league match against competition leaders East Coast Bays.
The match kicks off at 3.15pm and is preceded by the reserves game at 1pm.
In the Northland Premier League unbeaten Kamo host Madhatters while FC Whangarei host Tikipunga at Morningside Park. Kaikohe play Central Brown at Lindvart Park while Kerikeri host the other unbeaten side in the league, Onerahi, at Baysports Park.