Uefa Cup qualifying round, first leg/Djurgardens v Cork City: Cork City boss Damien Richardson received a boost ahead of his side's journey to Stockholm when the league leaders' pivotal attacking midfielder George O'Callaghan yesterday finally signed a new contract that will keep him at Turner's Cross for the next three years.Rasunda Stadium, ThursdayKick-off: 6.0
The 25-year-old, who had been a target for Drogheda United, had been in negotiations for several months over the deal and Richardson recently expressed concern when the player reportedly sought to make a number of changes, including the insertion of a get-out clause.
Richardson, though, expressed considerable satisfaction with the fact that the saga was at an end and hailed the deal as an important step forward both for the club and a player.
"I'm delighted that George has done this at what is an important stage of his career," he said. "I'm also happy that what he has signed in the end is the deal that was put before him by the chairman in the first place.
"It's a good deal both for him and for the club. He's the sort of the player that can help to bring this club on to the next level and I'm confident that we can move forward in a way over the next few seasons that will do full justice to his talents."
Unfortunately Cork are without O'Callaghan for tomorrow's Uefa Cup game against Swedish league leaders Djurgardens due to suspension but Richardson has otherwise brought a strong squad to Stockholm with Roy O'Donovan expected to return from a domestic ban to play and Michael Devine coming back into contention after missing most of the past month with a shoulder injury.
"Michael came through a reserve team game last night without any problems so he definitely comes back into the equation," said Richardson.
"What I have to do now is to decide between the fine form Nulty (Mark McNulty) has shown over the last few weeks and Devine's experience. It's a tough call but I think in these sort of situations you probably end up having to go for experience."
Richardson's main selection dilemma comes in midfield where Joe Gamble, Liam Kearney, Colin O'Brien, Greg O'Halloran and O'Donovan are all contending for starting places.
O'Brien, he said, did well in Monday evening's reserve game but the form of the others makes it a difficult call with the presence of O'Halloran one of the few certainties.
City are likely to find tomorrow's game a good deal tougher than the away leg against Ekranas in the last round with the Swedish outfit boasting several international stars in what should be a very strong line-up. But the visitors are intent on taking a positive approach despite their status as underdogs.
"We're not going there to defend," says Richardson, "that's for certain. We'll play our own game, that's the intention. It'll take a bit of nerve but I believe that if we're going to give ourselves the best possible chance of progressing then it will be on the basis of playing to our strengths, not theirs."
