SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps (tomorrow, 7pm)
A Jordanian international – who was once on the books of Real Madrid – could make his full debut for Finn Harps in tomorrow's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game against champions and leaders Shamrock Rovers in Dublin.
Twenty-six-year-old striker Jaime Siaj came on as a substitute for the Donegal club in their 2-1 defeat away to St Patrick's Athletic last time out.
Saij said: “I'm excited to be here. We have a tough road ahead, but the team is ready to fight to stay in the division. Everyone has made me very welcome here and I am ready to play my part in the battle.”
He was last with Al Ansar, who play in the Lebanese Premier Division, while one of his former clubs is American side Charlotte Independence, who were briefly managed by ex-Donegal All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning boss Jim McGuinness.
Harps boss Ollie Horgan has an uncanny knack of luring players from abroad to the north-west club, and will be hoping that the new arrival can play his part in trying to avoid relegation. Nine of the current first team panel are not Irish.
In team news, Harps are without Liam McGing, who was sent-off last week, while Rob Slevin, Regan Donelon, Elie-Gael N’Zeyi and Mark Timlin are doubts. Ryan Connolly and Ryan Rainey are back from suspension and available for selection.
Rovers must plan without the suspended Dylan Watts.
Horgan told FinnHarps.ie: “There is no point pretending we’re not seriously up against it now on Sunday. Rovers are a serious side, they’re competing in the group stages of Europe and they’ll want to maintain their lead at the top of the table having lost to Bohs last week. We’ve improved in the last couple of games but we need to be at our absolute best to have any chance, and even that might not be enough. We’ll take a cut off it anyway and see where we end up.”
Rovers, who drew 0-0 at home in their Europa Conference League Group game with Swedish side Djurgardens on Thursday, are likely to field a slightly understrength side against Harps.
Stephen Bradley’s side are 1/5 with the bookies to win.
They have won the three previous meetings this season, securing 3-0 and 1-0 successes in Ballybofey and a 3-1 victory in Tallaght, and will be expected to take another three points.
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