Sheffield Eagles: Boss Mark Aston issues challenge: turn signs of ecovery into sustained results

Aston wants two wins from the next three as he looks to convert improved recent showings into priceless Championship points.

Bottom club Swinton are first on the menu, but Aston is expecting a tough encounter after the Lions recently added Salford ace Levy Nzoungou, whilst also extending the loan of teammate Gavin Bennion. Last month they also added former Eagle Will Hope, who could face them for the first time since his departure.

“We are really targeting winning at least two out of the next three games. We need to but it isn’t going to be easy,” Aston told The Star.

“Swinton is up first and they have brought in a couple of loans from Salford, they are good players. They have Will Hope who we know well, they have decent players like Bracek, Thornley and many others. It will be tough.

“I was disappointed to lose Will, although he fronted up and told me what he was doing and why. He was committed to coming back to Sheffield, but he let me down and he knows I’m disappointed. We’ve had to move on. Will we have a quiet drink with him? The boys might, I’ll say hello.”

The Eagles are without the suspended Josh Toole, while Aston hopes to have Matty Costello, Jack Ashworth and James Bentley available from St Helens. Aston has been buoyed with spells of good play in the recent games against Barrow and Batley, whilst he got the full performance he was looking for in the win over Rochdale – now he says is the time to convert performances into points: “I was disappointed how they Batley game worked out because we gave it away,” he added.

“We have worked hard over the last three or four weeks to get ourselves into positions where we can pick up points. We were in front at half-time against Barrow, Rochdale and Batley, but only won once. I certainly thought we could have had more, but a few things went against us. There is a lot of work ahead, but I have seen signs.”