Old Derry City team-mates clash in League One opener

After coming off the bench to make his competitive debut for Shrewsbury last week at Middlesbrough, Daniels says he would love to feature as the League One season gets underway.

Having come through the youth team ranks at the Brandywell, the pair come up against each other for the first time in a competitive match and Daniels is looking forward to the game at Fratton Park.

“I use to drive Ronan to training every day when we were both at Derry, so to come up against him is mad,” he stated.

“Obviously having played away to Middlesbrough last week, playing Portsmouth away for our first league means we are facing another massive club this Saturday.

“It’s another night trip and it’s good to get it out of the way straight away but, yeah, it will be a tough game and obviously Ronan is absolutely flying.

"He was up for PFA Player of the Year for this division, and he deserves all he gets because he works hard.

“It will be nice to see him, because I have been in contact with him since he went to Portsmouth so it will be good to see another familiar face.

“I want to wish him all the best for this season but I’m hoping he starts to do well after we play them!”

Daniels has already caught up with an old Brandywell team-mate when Shrewsbury took on Walsall in pre-season, the Derry man, who missed the game, facing fellow ex-Top of the Hill man Rory Holden.

The 24-year-old admitted after speaking to Rory that he’s also looking forward to facing former Glenavon team-mates Mark Sykes and Joel Cooper, who he’ll also be seeing later in the season.

“As I said, Portsmouth is a massive club and obviously Ronan is there . To be honest I know a lot of players in League One from the Irish League and the League of Ireland,” he added.

“Obviously Ronan, then Sykesy (Mark Sykes) and Joel Cooper are at Oxford and I was speaking to Rory Holden whenever we played Walsall in a friendly.

“Although I didn’t play in that game, I was chatting to him after the match and seeing all these familiar faces where you don’t expect to see them, is crazy.”

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