POSITIVE INJURY NEWS ABOUT CALUM BIRNEY AND JAMIE DORAN

There is positive injury news about both Calum Birney and Jamie Doran. Calum has not played since the 3-2 home victory against Newry City in early April and Jamie has been sidelined since the 2-0 away success against Coleraine in late August.

Calum, despite having surgery on his right knee in June, was still having problems in July / August. He was due to have a further meeting with the consultant last Friday. However, that consultation was postponed because it was decided that he should have an injection in the troublesome joint.

“I hope to see the consultant again this Friday,” he explained. “In the meantime, I have been doing as much training as possible. I went on a 12-minute run a few weeks back and was in pain afterwards. When I did the same run on Tuesday night, eight days after the injection, I felt fine. So, the signs are good.”

Jamie Doran is also feeling optimistic about his prospects of making a quick return. Initially there was some doubt about the nature of his injury. He complained of pain in his hip / groin area. “It was eventually diagnosed as a grade two groin strain,” Jamie revealed. “There was also a bit of concern about my pubic bone. But Chris [Loughran] found out what was wrong and treated it as well.”

On Tuesday night Jamie completed a 12-minute run with no after-effects. “Now I aim to take some part in training on Thursday and, if everything works out, be fully involved next week.”

Hopefully, it is not too long until both lads are back in blue jerseys.