‘Unfortunate situation' – Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's Athletic struggling with huge fixtures and injury troubles
STEPHEN Kenny says his St Pat's must brace themselves before they enter the lion's den in Turkey on Thursday.
Saints trail Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas 4-1 from last week's first leg of their Conference League third-round tie in Istanbul.
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The 53-year-old led Dundalk to the Europa League group stages in 2016
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The Saints have a near impossible task ahead of them on Thursday to stay in Europe
And while it is all but over for the Inchicore men, boss Kenny is approaching the visit to the 42,000-capacity Besiktas Stadium, host to next May's Europa League final, in a positive manner.
St Pat's warmed up for their trip east with a 3-0 league win over Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park on Sunday to get their push for Europe next year back on track.
Jake Mulraney put Saints in front before Mason Melia added to their lead with a fine header and a brilliant solo second goal.
Saints now have a huge few weeks ahead with league champions Shelbourne at home in next Sunday's FAI Cup third round to come after Turkey.
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Then it is two big away games in the league at Drogheda United and Derry City.
Saints remain sixth in the table, but just five points separate them from second-placed Bohs with nine games to go.
First up is their visit to Besiktas on the western side of Istanbul which straddles the continents of Europe and Asia.
Kenny, whose side had a goal chalked off in the first half while 3-0 down, said: 'It's a tough one for us. We have to go into the lion's den.
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'Obviously they were good and deserved to win last week. They got a very soft penalty and the disallowed goal. The first half went against us.
'We then missed a great chance to go 4-2 to bring it closer. So we are up against it and we have to dust ourselves down and get ready. Sunday is important as well.'
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A busy sick bay at Richmond Park is scarcely helping.
Kenny said: 'We have a lot to consider. We have an injury list which has hurt us.
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"Zack Elbouzedi is out for the season with his shoulder. Aidan Keena is out long-term with a thigh injury.
Anto Breslin has a patella tendon on his knee and is out for a while.
'Seán Hoare is out with a minor calf injury, but it's one that has been persistent. And Romal Palmer has had two ops on his hamstring.
'The physios are busy at the minute. It's an unfortunate situation really.'
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Striving to make Europe again is the goal over what has been a hectic period — with Kenny accepting it is a tall order.
The former Ireland gaffer said: 'We have it all to do. We have two difficult away matches next in the league and we have to dust ourselves down and get ready for them.'
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