New signing Colovic out of frame for Derry clash
SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
DUNDALK FC will be without new signing Stefan Colovic for Friday’s league opener against Derry City as he awaits a work permit to join the SSE Airtricity League champions.
The Lilywhites announced the acquisition of the Serbian winger from Proleter Novi Sad last week, with the 25-year-old having agreed a two-year deal at Oriel Park and the club having an option of a third.
The former Atletico Madrid trainee, who has also lined out for both Red Star and Partizan Belgrade, meets the criteria for a work permit to play here in Ireland, but there is no exact timeframe for when his paperwork will be processed.
It is understood that Colovic - who scored 16 goals and 12 assists in his 87 games for Proleter Novi Sad - turned down interest from South Korea and elsewhere in Europe to join Dundalk.
Colovic is described as a speedy, left-footed right winger who can also play as a split-striker or anywhere across the front three.
He’s fluent in three languages, including English and Spanish, and becomes Dundalk’s fifth close-season signing, after deals were completed to bring Cammy Smith on loan from Dundee United, Darragh Leahy from Bohemians, Will Patching from Notts County and Greg Sloggett from Derry City.
Dundalk head coach Vinny Perth said that he did not wish to speak too much about his new recruit until he had arrived at Oriel Park.
He said: “He’s officially signed, but we’re just waiting on the paper work for his work permit to go through.
“It shouldn’t be an issue, but unfortunately at this stage we don’t know how long it will be.”
Colovic aside, John Mountney is the only other player ruled out of Friday’s league opener against Derry City, because of an ankle problem.
“We’ve alowed John more time to clean up an issue with his ankle that he had at the back end of last season, but beyond that everyone should be okay for Friday,” said Perth.
Meanwhile, the President’s
Cup final may not take place this season after Sunday’s game between Dundalk FC and Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park was called off on safety grounds due to Storm Ciara.
While the official announcement from the FAI said a new date would be set for the game in due course, it’s understood that a re-fixture suits neither team now that the league season is due to get under way this weekend.
Perth said it was “hard to know” if it would be re-fixed.
“The problem with it now is if it’s played on a Monday night, it’s probably devalued because both teams won’t play their strongest teams,” he said.
Dundalk are the current holders of the President’s Cup, having beaten Cork City 2-1 in last year’s final at Turner’s Cross.
Speaking about the game being called off, Perth said he was “very disappointed”.
He said: “I was in Oriel myself at 3pm and it wasn’t that bad, but when I went home last night and watched the news I can understand why it was called off.
“It would have been another chance to give players some minutes and I had intended to use six substitutes, but at the same time we’ve probably played more games in pre-season this year than any other, so we’re in a good place and the game being off allows us a normal training week ahead of the Derry game on Friday.”
The Lilywhites and Rovers are due to meet each other in the fourth league game of the season at Tallaght Stadium. The game on Friday February 28th will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two.