GREAT SIGNS

McCormack believes future looks good for Candystripes with four new men on board

CONOR McCORMACK believes Derry City’s new signings will provide added focus for the “high stakes” run to the line.

English striker James Akintunde (below) scored on his Candystripes debut in last Monday’s 2-0 win away to St Patrick’s Athletic.

And former Liverpool youth and Barnsley stalwart Adam Hammill is poised to feature on the wing today after serving his quarantine period.

Ibrahim Meite and Jake Dunwoody are still waiting in the wings but skipper McCormack likes what he sees from the quartet as Derry eye a European finish.

“They all look like very good footballers,” he said. “Some of them will suit different games but they look excellent and can help this club go from strength to strength.

“James is a big powerful boy and he’s going to be a handful for defenders – you saw that away to St Pat’s and it was a lovely first-time finish for the goal.

“He’s been excellent up top and gives us that pivot where he can run in behind and hold it up which is what you want from your centreforward.

“It’s such a shortened season and it’s high stakes, no margin for error with every minute on the pitch and every point mattering.

“You can’t be building up performances. You need to hit the ground running and get results and then the performances will come once you get more confidence.”

McCormack is a former Rovers player and played his part during their historic Europa League group stage run in 2011.

And he feels his old clb – who could move six clear of Bohs with a win today – are now becoming the league’s standard bearer.

“They’ve been building impressively the last few years to compete with Dundalk,” he said. “They’ve shown they’re right up there. They have a massive squad, some great players and have set the standard. It’s up to us to catch them.

“After losing to Sligo, we hope that the St Pat’s result will give us a positive reaction because we believe we can get something out of today’s game.”