Sky Blues to face Milk Cup Mexicans on Friday night

Glenn Ferguson’s side will take on the central Americans at Chimney Corner’s Allen Park ground on Friday night (7pm) as Mexico prepare for the start of the youth tournament next week.

The previous night (Thursday), the Sky Blues travel to Amateur League Lisburn Rangers, before taking on Larne at Inver Park on Saturday.

“We’ll put out two different teams for the Thursday night and Friday night games and then come together for the Saturday game, where the two squads will probably play a half each,” said Ferguson, who watched his side beat Championship outfits Ballyclare Comrades and Dundela last week.

“We’ve played well in the matches and training has been very good,” added the manager, who continues to run his eye over Dublin-based triallist Dean Marshall and former Glentoran and Lisburn Distillery winger Neal Gawley.

The manager continues to monitor knocks to winger Peter Duffin (ankle) and Gavin Taggart (hamstring) but doesn’t expect either player to be sidelined for too long.

Last season’s leading goalscorer David Cushley hopes to get the go-ahead this week to resume jogging, after being hospitalised with a collapsed lung last month.

“Cush is a good trainer and it won’t take him long to get up to speed with the rest,” added Ferguson.