Major boost for Cork City as Seáni Maguire likely to return to squad for Derry City clash
Seáni Maguire is in line to make his comeback for Cork City on Friday night, ending an 11-match injury layoff for the star striker.
Maguire was the sharpshooter of City's 2017 double-winning campaign and returned to the club from his seven-year stint in the UK midway through last season's triumphant First Division tilt.
His capture, along with another prodigal son in Ruairi Keating, was designed with the top-flight return in mind but disaster struck for Maguire just three games in.
A hamstring tear sustained during the first half of the Munster derby at Waterford spelt danger and how the Rebel Army have missed the forward who turned 31 last week.
Losing Keating to a season-ending Achilles rupture last month deepened the striker crisis, forcing manager Tim Clancy into the European market for free agents.
Dutch striker Djanairo Daniels grabbed his first two goals on Monday but they were in a 3-2 defeat at Drogheda United that leaves City in the relegation playoff spot, six points adrift of Waterford.
Having Maguire, as well as recent casualties Greg Bolger and Milan Mbeng, returning for the four-game blitz against Derry, St Patrick's Athletic, Galway United and Shelbourne before the midseason break is a boon for Clancy.
'Look, we have to get a couple of follow-up tests this week but the hope is Seáni will be available and ready to get on the pitch,' said the manager, indicating he would be named as a substitute.
Seáni Maguire of Cork City receives treatment during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Waterford and Cork City/ Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
'We need to get Biodex scans done to see where he is from the scans of three weeks ago.
'There were positive signs there and he's done a lot of work since so he should be available.
'Seáni looks after himself by doing everything right. We're not rushing him back so once all the indicators the medical team come back fine we'll phase him back into matchplay, hopefully from Friday.
'Greg and Milan are both back while Josh Fitzpatrick has one more game suspended.
'That's four players returning who we haven't had for recent games. Their experience and knowhow will give us a massive boost coming into the midseason break.'
Clancy isn't alarmed about the ground they've lost on Waterford despite beating the Blues on Easter Monday.
Three successive wins under the caretaker manager Matt Craddock over Derry City, Bohemians and Shelbourne has generated a buffer for new boss John Coleman to build on.
'I'm not really concerned,' stressed Clancy.
'We can't look at everyone else and start worrying about whatever they're doing.
'In the period of Waterford's three wins, we conceded in the 96th minute penalty against Drogheda and 90th against Sligo. There's three extra points we should have. That's the frustrating side for us. We haven't defended late in games.
'I know it's only hypothetical but if you take out the two goals you're only three points off Waterford and another one off Shelbourne - right bang into the group.
'We feel the frustrations of everyone. There's nobody more frustrated than myself and the staff at the end of games.'
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