Oldham Athletic have been dealt a triple injury blow in the first week of the new season.

Midfield trio Josh Lundstram, Devarn Green and Dan Ward are unlikely to feature for Latics this month, with the possibility of Green and Ward absent for around eight weeks after both sustained hamstring injuries.

Lundstram was the first casualty, after being injured in a tackle in the penultimate press-season friendly at Barrow, Green missed the season opener at Southend, while Ward was a first-half casualty in the 4-0 defeat at Roots Hall on Saturday.

For hamstring injuries, mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2) tears or strains can heal within three to eight weeks with treatment. For a grade 3 hamstring tear or strain, recovery may be as long as three months.

The Oldham Times understands Green and summer signing Ward fall into the first category.

Fellow summer signing Lundstram is further along with his recovery, having sustained his injury a fortnight ago, but the results of the 24-year-old’s scan suggested a four-six week lay-off in total.

The trio’s absence has come as an untimely setback to a side that is desperately looking to bounce back from a dreadful start to the season.

Their first home game of the campaign, against Aldershot at Boundary Park on Saturday, presents Latics’ first opportunity to recover from the 4-0 thrashing at Southend.

With Oldham still on the lookout for a right back, and Will Sutton starting the first of a three-match ban following his red card at Roots Hall, Latics could look to add reinforcements in midfield and defence this week.