GLOW DUFFY
Delight for Dundalk star Michael as Ireland call-up awaits but boss Perth demands more from his players in order to avoid getting stuck in a rut
MICHAEL DUFFY looks poised for a first Republic of Ireland call-up this week.
Stephen Kenny is eyeing up Dundalk’s star winger for the World Cup qualifiers against Portugal, Azerbaijan and Serbia.
Ex-lilywhites boss Kenny wanted to pick his former player for the Bulgaria game last November but was blocked by FIFA red tape.
Of Duffy’s inclusion, Dundalk boss Vinny Perth (inset) said: “I don’t know when any announcements are but I’m presuming he’s there or thereabouts from what I’m hearing.” Ireland face Portugal in Faro on Wednesday week and Kenny is naming his squad for the triple-header this Thursday.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mceleney will be sidelined for at least eight weeks in a blow to Dundalk’s hopes of saving their season.
And David Mcmillan’s availability for the rest of the year also hangs in the balance as the struggling club waits to hear on the extent of his ligament damage.
Both players were injured in Dundalk’s defeat away to Derry last week.
To compound matters, defender Dan Clearly limped out of Friday’s home defeat to Drogheda after eight minutes in just his second game back after a three-month layoff.
A week-and-a-half ago, the Lilywhites narrowly failing to dump top Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem out of Europe.
The focus immediately switched to climbing the table to ensure that Dundalk are back in the Europa Conference League next summer.
Instead, they’ve plummeted down the table to second from bottom after those back-toback defeats to Derry and Drogheda.
But Perth insists Dundalk are not in a relegation scrap and said: “I’m not thinking about that, not in any shape or form.
“I know where we are in the league position, but no.
“I’m not a scrapper and I don’t coach that way. We have won some big games here playing 4-4-2 and digging in but that’s not a style that suits me.
“Until I’m in one, I’m going to continue doing what I think this team is capable of.
“You can blame the owners, the management here, you can
blame the coaching staff here.
“But the players also have to have a bit of professional pride in themselves and not end up in this situation. They are too good for that.
“Mceleney, Mcmillan, we have lost those game changers but they are excuses too. We have gone beyond excuses.
“There are mistakes being made at this club outside of the players but it’s about the players also having to give something back.
“Not to the club but to the supporters and this town that has been very good to a lot of them for 10 years.”