Oldham Athletic Pre-Season: Five Changes as Tahir Joins Bench 2026

Key Points

• Oldham Athletic made five changes to their starting XI for the pre-season friendly against Stockport County at Boundary Park.
• New loan signing Zain Tahir, 19, from Sheffield United was named on the substitutes’ bench for his first matchday involvement.
• Manager Micky Mellon rotated Scott-Morris, Monthe, Kavanagh, Nevitt and Hammond into the side, with Pett, Fondop, Drummond, Sutton and Delaney dropping to the bench.
• Stockport County, a League One side, fielded a strong lineup including Diamond, Norwood and Wood as they continued an unbeaten pre-season.
• The friendly served as a final fitness and tactical checkpoint before competitive fixtures for both clubs.

Oldham (Manchester Mirror) July 28, 2026 — uk/local/oldham/">Oldham Athletic hosted Stockport County in a pre-season friendly at Boundary Park, with Latics manager Micky Mellon making five changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Bolton Wanderers the previous week. As reported by The Oldham Times, the rotations saw Scott-Morris, Monthe, Kavanagh, Nevitt and Hammond come into the starting XI, while Pett, Fondop, Drummond, Sutton and Delaney moved to the substitutes’ bench.

Stockport County, preparing for Sky Bet League One, presented stiff opposition with a lineup featuring experienced players such as Callum Diamond, Akeem Norwood and Will Wood. The match formed part of Oldham’s final pre-season preparations following defeats to Bolton and a behind-closed-doors loss to Huddersfield Town, with the coaching staff prioritising squad assessment and fitness over result.

What were the lineups and five changes for Oldham Athletic?

As confirmed by The Oldham Times, Oldham Athletic’s starting XI for the friendly was: Hudson; Scott-Morris, Robson, Daniels, Monthe; Appiah-Forson, Norburn, Kavanagh; Stevens, Nevitt, Hammond. The five changes from the Bolton fixture were explicitly named by the club’s coverage, with Scott-Morris, Monthe, Kavanagh, Nevitt and Hammond replacing Pett, Fondop, Drummond, Sutton and Delaney, who were listed among the substitutes.

The full substitutes’ bench for Oldham included: Wilson, Pett, Fondop, Chilvers, Drummond, Sutton, Woods, Tahir, Hawkes, Delaney and a trialist. Stockport County’s lineup, as published in the same report, was: Whatmuff; Bate, Pye, O’Connell, Diamond; Norwood, Edun, Glover; Wood, Wooton, Gordon. These team sheets provide the definitive reference for player positions and rotation strategy ahead of the League Two campaign.

How did the match context shape Mellon’s selection?

Micky Mellon’s five changes reflected a deliberate rotation policy across Oldham’s pre-season friendlies, aimed at testing different combinations and managing player workload. According to The Oldham Times, the manager was keen to secure a better result after consecutive defeats to Bolton and Huddersfield, but acknowledged the quality of League One opposition in Stockport.

The inclusion of Zain Tahir on the bench, just one day after his season-long loan from Sheffield United was announced on 27 July 2026, signals the coaching staff’s intent to integrate the 19-year-old defender gradually. Tahir’s presence among the substitutes offers additional depth at the back, with the club’s announcement highlighting his experience in Sheffield United’s Professional Development League title-winning side.

What does Zain Tahir’s bench inclusion mean for Oldham’s squad?

Zain Tahir’s first matchday involvement so soon after arriving at Boundary Park underlines Oldham’s need for versatile defensive cover. As reported by Sheffield United’s official channels and covered by local media, the teenager is capable of operating at left-back or centre-back, providing tactical flexibility for Mellon’s system.

For supporters, Tahir’s inclusion on the bench represents a tangible sign of squad reinforcement ahead of the season opener. His development pathwayprogressing through Sheffield United’s academy and contributing to a title-winning U21 side suggests he could feature in cup ties or as a late-game option in League Two fixtures if he adapts quickly to senior football.

Background: How did this pre-season fixture come about?

Pre-season friendlies between Oldham Athletic and Stockport County are a regional tradition, offering competitive intensity without league stakes. The 28 July 2026 fixture at Boundary Park was scheduled as part of both clubs’ final preparation block before competitive football resumed, with Stockport’s 2026–27 season schedule listing the match explicitly as a friendly at Oldham.

Oldham’s pre-season programme included fixtures against Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers earlier in July, providing a gradient of opposition levels to test different lineup configurations. Stockport’s unbeaten pre-season run, including a 2–0 win over Bristol City on 17 July 2026, set the context for a high-standard test at Boundary Park.

Prediction: How could this development affect Oldham fans and the local community?

For Oldham supporters, the integration of Zain Tahir and Mellon’s rotation strategy point to a squad being shaped for resilience and depth in League Two. If Tahir adapts quickly, fans could see a more flexible left-sided defensive profile, potentially improving build-up play and defensive coverage—key factors in a promotion-chasing campaign.

For the wider local community, consistent pre-season attendance and competitive friendlies help maintain matchday momentum and engagement ahead of the league opener. Strong performances against League One opposition, even in friendlies, can bolster confidence and season-ticket uptake, with economic spillover for local businesses on home matchdays.