Having earned the league's player-of-the-month award for July with his performances in Bohemians' Champions League qualifiers, Colin Hawkins may now be set for a spell on the sidelines as the club attempts to finally get him over the Achilles problem that has been troubling him through the summer.
With the club involved in such big games the former St Patrick's Athletic and Doncaster Rovers player has continued to play when he should have been resting but he is unlikely to figure against his old club in tonight's Dublin derby against St Patrick's Athletic as manager Stephen Kenny looks to give the 26-year-old a chance to concentrate on his recuperation.
With Ken Oman also suffering from an Achilles problem Kenny could stick with the central defensive partnership of Jason McGuinness and Paul McNally but the availability of Thomas Heary will probably mean one of that pair will start this evening's game at Dalymount on the bench.
"It's a slightly difficult situation with Thomas because he probably sees himself as a midfielder while he's spent most of his career at full back, but he's done well for us in central defence," says Kenny. "That's not where I saw him playing when I looked to bring him here but he's made himself even more useful to have around the place and it's a nice problem to have to resolve."
Kenny also has Stephen Caffrey and Bobby Ryan back in contention while Paul Keegan is ruled out by a foot injury picked up last week. St Patrick's, who have the Eircom League Cup final to think about on Monday evening, have doubts over Barry Prenderville, Davy Byrne (both ankle), Charles Mbabazi Livingstone and Paul Osam (both knee).
In Waterford, former Spurs striker Neale Fenn is likely to make his league debut for the home side against Derry City with manager Jimmy McGeough hailing the new arrival as the link his team have been missing since the sudden departure of Gary O'Neill.
"His ability to hold things up and to play off a centre forward is something we could have done with in recent matches," says McGeough. "We've tried a few players in the role since Gary left but after having had a good look at Neale over the past couple of weeks I'm happy he's a lad has the ability to do the job for us."
Fenn, a former Ireland under-21 striker and once very highly rated at White Hart Lane, has more recently endured a difficult time at Peterborough but the fact he can play either as an out-and-out striker or behind the front two was a major attraction for McGeough, who has signed him until the end of the season with an option for next year.
"He won't start against Derry," says McGeough, who has a full panel to choose from, "but we'll see how the game is going and decide whether to throw him in up front or in the middle."
Monday's other League Cup finalists, meanwhile, are at Belfield this evening and despite Longford's lack of any silverware at national level manager Alan Matthews insists he sees the league game as the priority.
"It would be wonderful for everyone at the club if we could beat St Pat's and win a cup," he says. "Of course there'd be a bit of glamour to it, but we're barely half way through the league campaign and UCD are far from out of it yet. Where we finish in the league is the real measure of success for me and getting three points would be very important."
Derek Coughlan may make his first competitive start since returning to Cork City from Bohemians when the southerners take on Drogheda United at Turner's Cross this evening. Alan Bennett is suspended for the game, leaving a vacancy Coughlin seems likely to fill. Conor O'Grady is set to return to the City midfield while United are at full strength.
Today'sFixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
NATIONAL LEAGUE - Premier Division: Bohemians v St Patrick's Ath; Cork City v Drogheda Utd; UCD v Longford Town; Waterford v Derry City (7.30).
First Division - Athlone Town v Limerick FC; Bray v Kildare Co.
ENGLISH LEAGUE - Division Three: Northampton v Darlington; Swansea v Boston Utd.
LAST NIGHT - National League - First Division: Dundalk 1 Kilkenny City 1.
