FOOTBALL: Coleraine ready for the off

THE wait is finally over as the 2010-11 Carling Premiership season kicks off this Saturday.

For Coleraine it will be a case of welcoming back an old friend as former boss Marty Quinn brings his Glenavon side to The Showgrounds for the opener.

Quinn's replacement, David Platt, now in his third season at the helm, feels that this side is the strongest group of players he's had to work with and he has challenged them to prove it.

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"It's been a long four weeks and it's down to the nitty gritty now," Platt told Times Sport following Saturday's 6-1 drubbing of Ards.

"On paper we're far stronger than last season and I've been telling the guys that since they came back. But can they prove it?

"I still think we can tighten up all over the park. We showed at times today we still have that free spirit and are always looking to play, but we have to make sure we see games out.

"There are still things which I feel we can work on and address. I'm putting small seeds in people's heads about what we should be doing when we're one or two up or when we're playing away from home.

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"But all those things come with experience. I've learned a lot over the last three years so now it's important that the players are learning too."

Platt has added Aaron Black, Johnny Harkness, David Scullion and Paul Brown to his squad in the summer and he hailed the versatility of his players, which he says will be vital in this season's campaign.

But Saturday's game will be the last for talented midfielder Stephen Dooley who is heading to America to take up the offer of a scholarship on August 12.

"We have options, good options, but you need a squad of players who can slot in to different roles and positions," said Platt.

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"I wouldn't say we had a big squad. We've four players suspended for the first game of the season all you need is a couple of injuries and suddenly you're down to the bare bones.

"I said to the players before today, they need to embrace the idea of a squad. "Last season we played 61 games and the most games any player started was 43, and that was only one player.

"So if every one of those players play in two-thirds of the games they'll be doing well."

One player who is hoping for more game time is Gareth Tommons. The midfielder suffered a frustrated season last term, but Platt has been impressed with him in pre-season.

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"Gareth has had a very good pre-season and he looks to be back to the fitness levels he was at when he first came here," he said.

"He had a bit of a stop/start season last year when he picked up a couple of niggling injuries, but it's up to him now to maintain that level.

"If he does he'll be very hard to leave out of the team."

Tommons, who started the game against Ards could be in line for a starting spot against Glenavon. Platt has four players ruled out through suspension for the game which he knows will be a tough encounter.

"It's been a tough week, we've trained hard and played two games, but it'll stand the boys in good stead," said Platt.

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"We've another tough week coming up preparing for a massive game against Glenavon on Saturday.

"They've brought in three good players in Kyle Neill, Mark Miskimmon and Lee Windrum. They've also brought up a couple of their younger players from the reserves.

"They still have a very experienced spine in Tony Grant, Wilo McDonagh, Jay Magee, Stuart King, Adrian Harpur and Conor Walsh to name a few.

"So they're still a quality team and they'll be very well drilled and they'll be hard to beat as every team in this league will be.

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"It doesn't matter if it's the first game or the last game we want to win it. The last five weeks have been geared towards next Saturday.

"We've spent all pre-season making sure the players are focused on getting three points."

STORY: Steven Crawford