Derry will be a man down for the weekend’s Round 3B qualifier trip to Salthill after Conor McAtamney withdrew from the set-up to travel to the US.

McAtamney informed management on Tuesday evening that he would be travelling to Chicago for the remainder of the summer.

The utility player had come on as a substitute against Wexford only four days ago, scoring a point in Derry’s 1-16 to 0-10 qualifier victory.

Having featured at midfield for much of the early stages of the league, McAtamney has also lined out at centre back and in the forward line this season. He appeared off the bench against Donegal in the Ulster championship semi-final.

Now in his third year with the Derry senior panel McAtamney has had a long season, with him also being a key member of the Derry Under-21 panel.

The Swaragh club man will play with the St Brendans club in Chicago.

Emmet Bradley will join him there, the Watty Grahams Glen player recently departed the panel after an injury disrupted season.

Brian McIver is otherwise glad though to have picked up no fresh injuries from the Wexford game, with an in-form Galway up next.

Derry’s league was hampered by injuries, the likes of Patsy Bradley only making his return to the match-day squad last weekend . While Kevin Johnston’s season ending knee ligament injury against Donegal was the latest setback.

“We came through Saturday evening with no injuries, which is great as we’ve had enough of them,” said the Derry boss.

The county also lost key forward James Kielt after he quit the panel following the Down game. Nonetheless Derry are just two games off a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals - they play Galway on Saturday in Salthill at 5pm.