Royle is looking to add to his goal-scoring options at Oldham

Oldham manager Joe Royle is planning to move in the loan market before Thursday's 1700 GMT deadline, with the signing of a goalscorer his priority.

In his two matches since returning to Boundary Park as manager the 59-year-old has identified a weakness.

Royle told BBC Radio Manchester: "If you look at our team, we only have two goalscorers in double figures."

"One (Chris Taylor) is only just in double figures. That's been our problem all year, putting the ball in the net."

Striker Lee Hughes is Oldham's top scorer this season with 18, whilst Taylor has chipped in with 10 goals in all competitions.

Lee Hughes is the player Oldham have relied on for goals this season

The Latics lie eighth in League One, five points shy of the play-off places with seven games remaining.

Royle has drawn one and lost one since returning to Boundary Park, 15 years after his first stint in charge came to an end.

"I know the players now, I know that everything the staff has told me is true. I know what we need," he said.

"This was never going to be the quick fix that everybody wanted, but there's no reason why we can't lay foundations for the future here."

Veteran striker Dean Windass has now officially returned to Premier League side Hull after his loan spell with Oldham was cancelled.

He scored just once - his 200th career league goal - in 11 games for the club and had fallen out of favour with previous manager, John Sheridan.

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