Winger Ward in Derry City squad to face Sligo

Former Dundalk and Sligo Rovers winger Keith Ward is included in the Derry City squad which travels to take on Sligo Rovers in a pre-season friendly tonight (kick off 7.45pm).

Ward (pictured), who plays predominately on the left wing, will guest for the Candy Stripes.

City boss Kenny Shiels has made it known publicly that he is on the look-out for an experienced plyer to join his squad, and in that Ward could tick all the boxes.

The 25-year-old has played for UCD, Bohemians, Dundalk and Sligo Rovers and could be viewed as a direct replacement for Mark Timlin, who joined St. Patrick’s Athletic.

That all depends on how Ward and Derry City fare tonight in Sligo, with City now likely to have to play the fixture on a 4G surface.

The Sligo Showgrounds surface was cut up badly in a recently friendly with a Liverpool XI, and the club are concerned that the grass pitch may not be in good condition for the March 5 league opener against Shamrock Rovers.

Should the game be played on an artificial surface, Shiels may not risk team captain Ryan McBride, who sat out Tuesday’s friendly game in Coleraine with a shoulder injury.