Crues won’t hurry McGonigle back
CRUSADERS boss Stephen Baxter says he can’t wait to see his star buy Jamie McGonigle strut his stuff but he won’t be rushing the frontman into action.
Baxter will check on the 23-year-old’s fitness before considering his inclusion in the squad for tonight’s encounter with Warrenpoint Town, which has been switched to Seaview due to technical difficulties with the floodlights at Milltown.
McGonigle finally completed his move from Coleraine to the Crues last week and there could be another new arrival on the Shore Road if the club’s pursuit of Dungannon Swifts ace Paul McElroy is successful.
The fans are looking forward to seeing some McGonigle magic, and Baxter hopes he can begin this new chapter in his career with a bang.
“He’s scored a lot of goals for a player of his age,” said Baxter.
“That’s the hallmark of a good centre forward and that’s what you pay good money for, to bring that quality to your club.
“I’ve watched him progress for a few years and he has developed into a strong, fast, quality centre forward, and there’s very few of them in Northern Ireland. We are hoping he will have a great career here.”
McGonigle has trained with his new team-mates and he will be hungry to get back on the goalscoring trail quickly.
“I have to be guided by (physio) Brian Strain about his selection,” added Baxter. “He arrived with a knock from two weeks ago, which was a knee clash and bruising on the bone, but he trained with the team and we will check on his movement.
“We don’t want to push him