DERRY City skipper Ryan McBride and striker Rory Patterson are injury doubts ahead of tonight’s FAI Cup replay at Drogheda United.
The skipper has a groin injury, while Patterson is struggling with a knee problem and boss Kenny Shiels will give them right up until kick-off to see if they can make it.
“Ryan is a major doubt with a groin injury, Rory is a doubt with a knee injury and Michael [Hegarty] (Derry City physio) worked on them last night for further treatment, but hopefully they’ll get through,” stated Shiels.
The Derry gaffer is hoping his players have their shooting boots on. He felt for the second home game in-a-row his side missed a host of good chances in Friday night’s first game, at the Brandywell, although he did concede that young Drogs keeper Stephen McGuinness was in top form.
“We know we didn’t win it because we missed chances and that’s the one reason as to why we didn’t win the game,” he added.
“We missed too many chances and we’ve got to try and be more clinical in front of goal.
“I don’t think Finn Harps or Drogheda can say that they came with any great play to try and stop us playing, because we have been successful of getting through these teams and getting to the final third, but we just haven’t finished.
“Getting ourselves in front is something that we need to try and be in that situation, where we can have more composure because we were chasing in both games and we came from behind well in both games, but didn’t take our chances.”
Shiels has seen Pete Mahon’s side at first hand in their tight United Park ground, a venue which Derry have struggled at in recent years as they have only won twice in their last nine visits.
“We have to make sure that we plan properly and have got our heads on and if we do that then we can go there and win,” said Shiels.
“We will be going there to entertain and win, that’s our two objectives and hopefully we can get the both of them.
“It’s a long time to August and I don’t want to be out of the cup in May, I want to be in the hat and everyone else is thinking the same.”
Another FAI Cup replay this evening involves City’s North West neighbours Letterkenny Rovers.
Eamon McConigley’s men produced a sterling display to secure a 0-0 draw at First Division side Athlone Town on Saturday and they will fancy their chances of causing an upset on their patch at Leckview Park tonight.
