League of IrelandNew Derry City boss John Robertson has made former under-21 Northern Ireland international Sammy Morrow his first signing for the club.
The locally-born striker, who had spells with Ipswich and Hibernian, has been training with City for the past fortnight.
Morrow, who also played under Robertson during a loan spell with Livingston last season, goes straight into the squad for this evening's game against Sligo Rovers, as does Ciarán Martyn, who returned this week from his loan spell in Norway.
After talking with Robertson yesterday, it seems Darren Kelly may withdraw his transfer request and resume training next week. In the meantime, Kelly, Pat McCourt and Killian Brennan will all be missing from the panel tonight when the Scot will take on board the advice of those around him before picking a starting line-up for the first time.
Sligo manager Paul Cook is without Richard Brush (knee), Gavin Peers (hamstring) and Chris Turner (knee) and is apparently frustrated by his inability to add players to what he feels is a very thin squad.
"The transfer window is an important time and we certainly need an injection of players," he says. "Whether I can sign anyone, though, is a debatable point."
Maintaining the team's current placing over the remainder of the season with be difficult, he says, unless he gets to strengthen. This evening, on the other hand, will be difficult because of the quality of the opposition and the particular circumstances.
"They've got some good players," he says, "and I think John Robertson will bring some stability.
"I think he'll prove to be a good appointment for them and players are always up for it when there's a new manager so I'd say we're likely to have our hands full."
Elsewhere, the league leaders, St Patrick's Athletics, will still be without Joseph Ndo and Gary O'Neill but Alan Kirby and John Frost return from suspension for this evening's game at Waterford. Of the newly signed players, only Dave Rogers is likely to figure for St Patrick's as neither Michael Keane nor Billy Gibson have played since the end of the British season.
Cathal Lordan goes into the United squad for the game after arriving on loan from Cork City, while Willie John Kiely must await international clearance after returning from Aberdeen.
"It's great to get a local boy back to the club," says manager Gareth Cronin of the Kiely signing, "and he comes with a great scoring record so we are hoping for more of the same."
Drogheda continue to have a string of high profile players laid up as they head for Belfield this evening. Aside from long term casualties like Shane Barrett and Declan O'Brien, Ollie Cahill, Miko Vilmunen, Richie Baker and Aidan O'Keeffe are getting close to match fitness again but none are expected to feature against the students.
Pat Scully, meanwhile, adds former Shelbourne midfielder Alan Reynolds to his squad for the meeting between Shamrock Rovers and Longford Town in Flancare Park after the player's release by Waterford.
"Alan's a very experienced player," says Scully, "and with his arrival our squad is starting to look quite strong. We need experience and Alan has it. There's going to be great competition for places now."
