Duo on their way as striker re-signs

INSTITUTE’S Head of Development Paul Kee will have two of his three targets available for this weekend.

Kee has duo Darren McCauley and Joe McCready available for this Saturday’s JJB Sports Irish Cup fifth round home tie against Donegal Celtic (KO 3pm), however Michael McCrudden is still in talks with the Drumahoe men.

Ex-Derry City man McCrudden, who has been out of contract since November, is a tricky winger who only a few years ago was on the books of English Premiership side Newcastle United.

Waterside man McCauley, is currently at in-form Coleraine, however the midfielder has had limited appearances this season for the Bannsiders and with the recent arrival of Ruairi Harkin a move on to the Riverside Stadium on loan suited all parties.

As for McCready, he returns from his loan spell at Dungannon Swifts, where he netted four times and Kee is hoping these additions will not just boost their squad for this weekend’s Irish Cup tie, but also their promotion hopes.

“Joe has signed and Darren also signed on loan from Coleraine on Thursday night and we got his clearance sorted out so he’s available for our Irish Cup tie, I’m also hoping to have (Michael) McCrudden and if we get him it would definitely significantly add more competition to our squad,” explained Kee.

“If I’m to be honest with you I’m optimistic we’ll get another one or two, even with the budget restraints with which we have got.”

Kee also confirmed that any new players signing during the January transfer window will be coming on a ‘pay as you play’ basis.

“The arrangement we have now is a pay as you play basis and most of them are happy with that, they have bought into it,” declared Kee.

“The 16 who are in the squad on a Saturday get paid and the ones who aren’t in the squad don’t. Any player I’m signing now I’m telling them the situation and those players are coming because they want to play football.

“The thing about it is out here at the minute is that the team has a reputation of trying to play football and as I keep saying to the players, ‘we are doing our job, it’s up to you guys to try and win football matches’, but because we have that reputation players are wanting to come to us.”

Kee will also be warning his players that if they do create opportunities against the Belfast men this Saturday then they will have to take them.

“If I was being critical of us on Saturday we didn’t test their keeper enough and that was disappointing, but I’m not going to be too hard on the players because we did win, but at the same time if those type of chances come along this week against DC and if we don’t take them then you are asking for trouble.

“But as I have said I expect a different approach from the players going into the Donegal Celtic game.”