Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BLOW FOR DERRY
DERRY CITY have been hit by the news that Michael Mccrudden is out for up to three months after he suffered a midweek training ground injury.
Striker Mccrudden, 26, broke a metatarsal on Wednesday and Foylesiders boss Declan Devine said: “I’m gutted for Michael because we felt he was really starting to make his presence felt.
“He has been fantastic in training and gives us such good options in games, so it’s a real blow.
“That said, there’s now an opportunity for players to come in and show what they can do. We have quality in our squad and I’m fortunate to be able to bring in guys that I know are up to the task.”
Devine is weighing up his options for tonight’s clash between second and fourth. Patrick Mcclean is out injured and Jamie Mcdonagh is in the middle of an extended ban having been sent off in City’s sole defeat so far at Shamrock Rovers. While accepting his player deserved that red card, Devine claimed he was “at a complete loss to understand the extent of the winger’s retrospective suspension”.
The City supremo added: “It will be a tough game. Bohs ended last season as one of the form teams and have carried that with them this season.
“Keith (Long) has done some really good business in the close season and they like to play the right way. It could be a decent match.”