Waterford United manager Mike Kerley says that former player/manager Alan Reynolds's return has given everyone at the club a huge lift.

"We have been lacking experience in the team and Alan's decision to rejoin the club is a boost for everybody at Waterford United," said Kerley, who drafts the 32-year-old midfielder straight into his side for the visit of Sligo Rovers to the RSC tonight. Bottom of the table Waterford have lost their last eight games and still await their first win of the league season.

"The club has been such a part of my life and I am so glad to be returning to the RSC," said Reynolds, who also had spells at Cork City, Longford Town and Shamrock Rovers.

Reynolds, who has signed until the end of the 2007 season, comes in along with fellow new signing Mitchell Casey, who won a unique double of SFAI Under-16 National Cup and FAI Junior Cup with Waterford Crystal, and goalkeeper Ben Spicer, who has signed from Aisling Annacotty.

James Chambers, who had been on loan from Shelbourne, has had his loan agreement extended until the end of the season.

Sligo will include their new signing, Harpal Sigh. Released by Leeds United having been at the club since he was 12, the 24-year-old left winger joined Stockport County after loan spells at Bury and Bristol Rovers.

"His background is excellent and he is pacy, very direct and is different to any other player we have at the club," said Sligo manager Sean Connor. "He is the type of player I have been looking for for a while now."

Connor has also signed 17-year-old Ireland schoolboy international Seamus Coleman from Killybegs and said he is talking to three other players.

Jason Byrne, who has scored four times in the last three league games, returns from suspension for in-form Shelbourne's trip to Dublin City.

In contrast to Shelbourne, whose Intertoto Cup win over Odense last Sunday was their ninth victory from their last 10 games, Dublin City are struggling badly for the first time this season having taken just one point from their last five matches.

Lee Roche has been signed from St Patrick's Athletic to bolster an attack that remains without the injured Robbie Collins and Ger McCarthy.

St Patrick Athletic have completed the signing of former Leeds United and Halifax Town central midfielder Brenton Lester, but he doesn't arrive until Monday and so won't feature against Bohemians at Richmond Park tonight.

St Patrick's manager John McDonnell also confirmed that he has spoken to Cork City's disgruntled midfielder George O'Callaghan.

Bohemians are without suspended Thomas Heary, shown a straight red card for dissent in their home defeat to Derry City last week, so captain Kevin Hunt is likely to make his first start in three weeks. Striker Mark Leech, signed on loan from Drogheda United, comes straight into the squad.

Tonight'sFixtures

(7.45 unless stated)

Premier Division - Dublin City v Shelbourne; St Patrick's Athletic v Bohemians; Waterford Utd v Sligo Rovers. First Division - Limerick FC v Athlone Town