Soccer

I won't rush Gormley back from elbow injury insists Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin

Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley suffered a broken elbow during training back in January, and looks set to miss the rest of the season. Picture by Pacemaker
Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley suffered a broken elbow during training back in January, and looks set to miss the rest of the season. Picture by Pacemaker Cliftonville striker Joe Gormley suffered a broken elbow during training back in January, and looks set to miss the rest of the season. Picture by Pacemaker

Danske Bank Irish Premiership

CLIFTONVILLE boss Paddy McLaughlin insists he has no intention of rushing Joe Gormley back into action, even if the Reds hotshot does force his way into contention before the end of the season.

It was expected that Gormley – the club’s record goalscorer - would be sidelined for the rest of the campaign after undergoing surgery for a broken elbow sustained in training back in January.

That could still be the case but, having returned to light training, there is an outside chance he could feature again this season – although McLaughlin won’t be taking any chances with the 31-year-old.

“The good thing about it is he’s back on the training pitch doing some light stuff,” said the Reds boss, whose side will bid to close the gap on third-placed Larne when they clash at Inver Park today.

“With a bit of luck we might be able to get him in before the season’s over but we’ve got to be careful and look after his health and wellbeing

“You can’t fire him in just because he’s back on the pitch, any bang or any knock on it could reset the whole thing.

“Joe’s one of the best strikers the league has ever seen so to have that calibre of player taken away from us is a major blow but, to be fair, the other strikers have stepped up to the plate when we needed them.”

A “week by week” approach is also being taken with Conor McDermott as the Reds right-back attempts to shake off a problematic groin injury.

“We’re trying to manage him as best we can. The surgery would put an end to his season where with a bit of rest it might help heal it, so we’re taking it week by week to see.

“You’re looking towards the end of the season before we see him again and it’s a big blow because he’s been one of the top players in the division during his time at Cliftonville.”

The trip to Larne is the first of a trio of games that could have a big say in where the Reds finish up in the table as they bid to push up from sixth, with home games against second-placed Coleraine and Glentoran, currently in fourth, before the end of the month.

McLaughlin, though, has eyes only for the challenge that lies ahead today.

“You’re probably right if you look further down the line, the next three games are massive surely, but we’re only concentrating on the next game.

“That’s always the biggest game, we know how good a side Larne are and how difficult a game it’s going to be. But aye, the next three games are going to be massively tough but they’re games that can have a massive impact on our season as well as the teams we’re playing.”

Elsewhere today, Coleraine will hope to keep the pressure on league leaders Linfield when they face Carrick Rangers at the Showgrounds.

Oran Kearney’s men, who have three games in hand on the Blues, can’t afford to lose any ground and come into this game in a rich vein of form having won their last five. Carrick, meanwhile, have had a rough few weeks after shipping 18 goals across defeats to Glentoran, Crusaders, Linfield and Larne.

Just four days after their last meeting on Tuesday night, Glentoran and Glenavon renew acquaintances at The Oval – with Mick McDermott’s men eager to avenge that 2-1 defeat as they strive for greater consistency in the crucial weeks ahead.

Bottom side Dungannon Swifts may have lost 2-0 to the Blues in Dean Shiels’s first game in charge, but they played some nice stuff at times and will hope that new manager bounce can continue when they welcome fellow strugglers Portadown to Stangmore Park.

The shares were spoiled when Ballymena United and Warrenpoint drew 1-1 on Tuesday night, and they lock horns again in this evening’s clash at Milltown (5.30pm, live on BBC Sport NI website).