AIRTRICITY LEAGUE:AMID ONGOING transfer speculation, James McClean will play against Dundalk at the Brandywell tonight as Derry City look for a fourth successive win which would put them top of the table for the first time this season – for 24 hours at least.
Winger McClean remains set to leave the club and the 22-year-old spoke to Peterborough United during the week, even though Derry have rejected the English Championship side’s offer, believed to be €284,000. Wigan Athletic are also interested as well as another unnamed Premier League club.
McClean, who is also likely to feature for the Airtricity League team in next weekend’s Dublin Super Cup, has until the end of next month to make a decision and is being advised to weigh up all options.
“Everyone at Derry City has respected how hard James has worked, particularly this season,” said Derry manager Stephen Kenny. “His rate of improvement has been rapid. He has listened to the coaching staff and is willing to go that bit extra in order to improve. James is never happy at being okay, he always wants to go that bit extra to improve and be the best he can be.
“He has spoken with Peterborough United, but a few clubs from the Premiership are now looking at him. Whether anything materialises on that front, we don’t know. The deadline for signing players in England is August 31st, so he’s got time on his hands and we believe he should investigate all his options, rather than jump at the first concrete offer.”
Kenny must again plan without captain Kevin Deery, who has not fully recovered from an ongoing calf injury. Fellow midfielder Ruaidhri Higgins is suspended.
Dundalk were the last team to beat Derry in the league at the end of May, 10 games ago.
“We know that if we play to our maximum, which you have to do to beat Derry, that we can get all three points,” said Dundalk manager Ian Foster. “Concentration is the key.”
Though Foster has 14-goal leading scorer Mark Quigley back from suspension, he is without long-term injured left back Eoghan Osborne (broken leg), midfielder Stephen McDonnell (knee) and striker Jason Byrne (hamstring). Left winger Ross Gaynor (ill), left back Nathan Murphy (toe) and central defender Colin Hawkins (hamstring) need to prove their fitness.
Threadbare bottom side Galway United will hope to end their unenviable record run of 17 straight league defeats when they travel to Drogheda United in a meeting of the bottom two.
Manager Seán Connor, who confirmed he was staying at the club during the week, is without suspended pair Mikey Gilmore and Eduardo, while Johnny Keane, Seán Kelly and Enda Curran (all knee) remain out injured.
Midfielders Colin O’Brien and Jack Flynn are out injured for Drogheda.
Tonight
Derry City v Dundalk7.45pm
Home: 8/13, Draw: 11/4, Away: 4/1.
Drogheda United v Galway United7.45pm
Home: 4/11, Draw: 10/3, Away: 15/2.
First Division Tonight
Limerick FC v Monaghan United7.45pm
Home: 17/20, Draw: 9/4, Away: 3/1.
Mervue United v Waterford United7.45pm
Home: 4/1, Draw: 12/5, Away: 4/6.
Shelbourne v Salthill Devon8pm
Home: 1/20, Draw: 9/1, Away: 22/1.
Wexford Youths v Finn Harps8pm
Home: 6/4, Draw: 11/5, Away: 8/5.
