Skipper to return as striker starts suspension

Having managed to secure a battling point at Dergview, boss Paul Kee is looking for his players to get back to winning ways this weekend.

Currently ahead of Dundela on goal difference, the Waterside men have five league fixtures from this weekend until the end of November and Kee wants to maintain his players freshness and focus.

“Our first six games in the league have gone well, we are unbeaten and we want to try and keep that run going,” stated Kee.

“But we are up there to be shot at now and there’s teams now who are going to be I would say working that bit extra hard to be getting in performances against us to get the result, so we have to be matching that effort and commitment.

“That’s what I’ll be asking the players, obviously starting with their training and everyday application to the game on a Saturday.”

Saturday’s opponents are four points behind ’Stute and Gary McKinstry’s side haven’t tasted defeat in their last three games, in fact they have won in their last two outings beating Harland & Wolff Welders on the road and last weekend seeing off Coagh United at home.

“Even though we ended up beating them 3-0 last year, it was a tough match. Loughgall dug in and this season will be no different.

“They are a very committed team and we’ll have to be at our very best and unlike the Dergview game, if and when we get chances this weekend then we’ll have to take them.”

The Waterside men have injury concerns with Michael McCrudden (knee), Paddy McLaughlin (calf) and Matthew Crossan (groin) all struggling, while Darren McFadden misses ’Stute’s next two games through suspension.

However on the plus side Robbie Hume and Declan McKeever are back and should be available for selection, while duo Stephen Parkhouse and John Curran are also back in training but are still a number of weeks away from forcing their way back into Kee’s first team plans.

“Mickey has had a wee bit of a lapse with his knee problem so it’s not looking good for him to play and McFadden is suspended, so we’ll have to review our forward line.

“Robbie’s training this week after a wee illness so hopefully he’s back to his best because we could be doing with him and Decky McKeever is now back and I’m hoping that Paddy’s going to be fit.

“He had a bit of fatigue in his calf, so we decided not to risk him at Dergview and it hasn’t worked out to bad because Stephen O’Donnell got sent-off, so we’ll need him to come in for the Loughgall game.

“Other than that I’m hopeful everyone else will be fine, it’s good that Stephen Parkhouse and John Curran are back training and hopefully in a couple of weeks they’ll be back into the squad.”