Hamstring scan may be needed for McCrudden

Institute gaffer Paul Kee wants his players to have the right mentality when they face bottom side Warrenpoint Town, at the Riverside Stadium, this Saturday (KO 3pm).
Institute's Cormac Burke picked up the Institute Supporters man of the match award, after their game against Dollingstown. Also pictured are Ian Culbert and Paul Lewis.Institute's Cormac Burke picked up the Institute Supporters man of the match award, after their game against Dollingstown. Also pictured are Ian Culbert and Paul Lewis.
Institute's Cormac Burke picked up the Institute Supporters man of the match award, after their game against Dollingstown. Also pictured are Ian Culbert and Paul Lewis.

The Drumahoe man is also well aware that Town come into the game pointless but he knows they are going to be a big test for his side.

“They will be wanting to get their first points of the season and they’ll see us as a potential scalp, because we are going to be seen as one of their main competitors,” he said.

“We know that they are going to be coming to Drumahoe with guns blazing. They haven’t had a good start but I know they will be cajoling their players, so we just have to be ready for it.

“There’s no chance that we’ll underestimate them. We’ll be treating the game like it’s Cliftonville or Linfield we are playing so I want to see the mentality of our players.”

Kee is also hoping that the new boys in the division syndrome will benefit his side, but he also concedes that Barry Gray’s side will know what they are coming up against this weekend.

“All the players should look forward to every Premier League match and Saturday should be no different,” he added.

“We have the element of surprise in the first 11 games and we want to use that.

“Warrenpoint will be more familiar with us because we have played them a couple of times a few seasons ago and we had a couple of good games.

“So I think they’ll fancy their chances because they have had a few good results at Drumahoe, so I have no doubt it’s going to be a tight match.

“But if we keep doing what we have been doing then we’ll be okay, because we have been playing with a nice style, swagger and confidence.

“We have been playing with a good intensity, we have been good on and off the ball. We have a good mix of defensive and offensive capabilities and if we keep doing that we’ll be fine and we need to be at our maximum.”

If the goalkeeping situation isn’t sorted then Stute are likely to go with the same squad that faced Linfield last weekend, with Rory Kelly likely to be added to it, but Cormac Burke is struggling with a toe problem and Michael McCrudden is definitely out.

“I would anticipate the squad would be around about the same squad as last weekend, I can’t see Mickey being involved,” Kee said.

“In fact he’s still a way off it and although the plan was to try and get him back ASAP because he’s a player who can influence play up the pitch, but he has had a bad hamstring problem and he doesn’t think it’s getting any better and he might need a scan.

“Both Mervyn (Kirkwood) physio and the doctor don’t know the exact problem so we’ll have to wait and see.”