Clery forced to field a host of rookies

Date Published: 04-Apr-2008

THE chances of Billy Clery getting his reign as Galway United caretaker boss off to a winning start in United Park tonight look extremely remote given the injury problems he has inherited for the game with Drogheda United (kick-off 7.45pm).

Derek Glynn, Daryl Robson and John Lester are definite non-starters — the first two through injury, the latter through suspension — and there are also serious injury doubts over John Fitzgerald, Jay O’Shea, Wes Charles, Alan Keane and Stephen O’Flynn.

That leaves Clery with the bones of a squad for the visit to the home of the league leaders, and odds on a visitors’ victory look a little short, even at the price of 13/2 which was available at the time of going to press.

Clery will have to call up a number of last season’s U21s for the game, but seeing that he was manager of that side, he will know all about the players, and they, in turn, will give him everything if called upon.

Seamus Conneely impressed on a night of gloom when coming off the bench after 22 minutes to make his debut against Shamrock Rovers last Saturday night.

Stephen Cunningham also came off the bench on the hour mark for his United bow, and both — along with Jonathan Keane — are likely to ……………….