Semple ready and waiting

The experienced winger, who admitted he won’t have been playing in the Irish League this season if circumstances in the USA had not fallen through, is hoping whenever he does get his chance that he does enough to impress the ’Stute management team.

“I was over in the States over the summer and then I was offered a job in Boston, but it wasn’t really what I thought it was going to be and by the time I got back here it was too late to sign for ’Stute as the window had closed.

“I’m just glad to be back at ’Stute, I have been training the last few weeks and I feel that I’m getting a lot fitter, but I now need to be playing games.

“However it has been far from me to force my way into the team because we have been doing well.”

Although having been playing in the Irish League for over a decade now the former Linfield man knows he will have to bide his time.

“I know that I can’t be asking any questions of why I’m not in the team, I have been training with the lads and we have a lot of young players coming through, which means they have a lot of enthusiasm and energy, but I know that I can still do a job, but once I do get my chance I have to show that I’m still capable of doing it.

“The boss has signed a few other players and a few young players from Derry City.

“I think there is a few positions which are covered well and because of that everybody knows that if they aren’t doing their job, then there are plenty of people ready to get in and I’m one of those players.

“So it’s up to me that if I get a chance I grab it with both hands.”

This weekend the Drumahoe club travel to the league leaders and Semple knows it’s going to be a tough encounter, but if they want to try and catch Ballinamallard United then three points is a must.

“I haven’t seen our previous two games against them this season, but I have heard we have played good enough football but we didn’t take our chances and if you don’t take your opportunities like they have done, then that has been the difference, we have competed against them but have not taken our chances.

“Our next two league games are crucial, we have Ballinamallard away and then Newry City at home, so we want to finish the season well; they are ten points clear of us and it’s up to Ballinamallard to slip up, but if they do then we want to be in a position to catch them.”