SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Derry City v Dundalk (Friday, 7.45pm)
DERRY City’s Pat Hoban is a major doubt to face his former club Dundalk at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium tonight.
Hoban, who is the Oriel Park side’s all-time leading marksman, is struggling with a groin injury, but boss Ruaidhrí Higgins is hopeful the veteran striker can make it.
“Pat Hoban is obviously a major doubt,” he said.
“Ben Doherty and Cameron Dummigan are getting a lot closer, so fingers crossed we might see them in the squad on Friday and, outside of that, I think the squad will be very similar to the Shelbourne game.
“Of course Pat’s eager, he’s a winner, but he’s carrying a wee problem that we need to try and get right as well.
“He wants to play every single game, but it’s also important to remember we’re eight games into a 36-game season and we need him fit and healthy for the team to kick on.
“He’s a really, really strong character; he puts the team first and I suppose he knows his body as well, but we’ll see closer to kick-off.”
In their last outing at home, the City faithful booed Higgins’ side after their 1-0 loss and the Limavady man doesn’t want a repeat performance from his players.
“There’s no shying away from it. It was extremely tough and unacceptable, but we want to move on from that,” he added.
“Every team has a period in the season where it’s not plain sailing and hopefully ours is short-lived. It was a much more committed and better performance on Monday against the league leaders, a really, really good Shelbourne side, so that would give us a bit of confidence.
“One thing I would say, and I’ve never ever said anything different, I back these players to the absolute hilt and I know we’ve got a brilliant group in there and we’ll get going again.
“I’ve always said that it goes hand-in-hand, we need to start the game fast and hopefully the crowd respond off that and it works hand in hand.
“Sometimes you need a wee lift as well but we have to give them something to cling on to and as long as our supporters see effort and drive and commitment then they always get behind the team.”
While the Foylesiders welcome back Doherty and Dummigan, skipper Patrick McEleney and Sadou Diallo remain on the treatment table.
“Patrick has an issue that we’re trying to get sorted so again he’s probably a few weeks away all being well, but Sads is plugging away in the background and working hard,” he said.
“He’s maybe a wee bit behind where we would have liked him to be but I don’t think it’ll be too long, but it’s not imminent.”
Elsewhere tonight in the Premier Division, the leaders travel to Drogheda United as Damien Duff’s side look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Champions Shamrock Rovers, who have won three games on the bounce, make the short trip to St Patrick’s Athletic and Alan Reynolds comes up against his old club as Bohemians welcome Waterford to Dalymount Park. Tomorrow night, Sligo Rovers entertain Galway United.
In the First Division, leaders Cork City face neighbours Cobh Ramblers at Turners Cross, Athlone Town make the journey to Bray Wanderers, bottom side Longford Town take on Kerry and Treaty United visit Wexford.
