Airtricity League: Nightmare at an end for Monaghan as Harry's back in game

Derry City travel to the Showgrounds tonight to take on North West rivals Sligo Rovers in an Airtricity Premier Division clash (kick-off 8.00pm).

One player looking forward to the game is City midfielder Harry Monaghan who is set to make his long-awaited return to the first team after a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to a troublesome knee injury.

The midfielder has played just 45 minutes since injuring his knee against Longford Town back in April, and has had to be patient after suffering two setbacks in his attempt to return to first team action.

Monaghan played those 45 minutes in the first half of the 5-0 home defeat to Dundalk at the start of July but has since had to sit out games against Longford and Bohemians.

City boss Shiels refrained the urge to play him at Dalymount Park last week, to help ensure the Scot was 100% on his return, and with City set to play two games in 72 hours this weekend, Monaghan is sure to be involved.

It is good news all round for Shiels this weekend as captain Ryan McBride also makes a timely return from suspension ahead of an important league game and the EA Sports League Cup semi-final against Limerick at the Brandywell on Monday.

Shiels could well be tempted to rest a few p[layers with Monday’s semi-final in mind, but he is adamant that the thought hasn’t even crossed his mind.

“There’s an old saying in football and I always use it,” he said. “The most important game in your life is always your next game, and that’s the way we approach every game.

“This takes preference over Limerick and then Limerick will be our most important game. We treat everything around the next game. All the work we do is in preparation for the next game and that’s the way we have to approach it.”

City are hoping to gain revenge on Sligo who are one of only two teams to win at the Brandywell this season.

Rovers enjoyed a shock 2-0 victory over the Candy Stripes back in April, and Shiels is hoping to give the Bit O’Red a taste of their own medicine tonight.

“Sligo have won six and drawn one of their last seven home matches, just like us when they came to the Brandywell and beat us, so we’ve got to go and try them turn them over as well,” he said.

“At the start of the season they didn’t win for their first six games so they have certainly got a very good team together and it will be a tough game for us.”