Key Derry City players set to return at long last

Bohemians vs. Derry City

Dalymount Park

Tomorrow, 7:45pm

Derry City have been handed a boost with the news that Mark Connolly and Cameron Dummigan will both return to action within two weeks.
While tomorrow's game against Bohemians may come too early for the duo, the news that both players will return will be great news for City supporters, who have yet to see their team anywhere near full strength this season. 
Connolly has played in just five of 14 league games so far, missing the last two months after suffering  a hamstring injury against Dundalk on March 10. Dummigan meanwhile has yet to feature at all this season, having injured his hamstring during the pre-season trip to Spain. 
With Patrick McEleney also progressing well, City may be as close to full strength as they have been at any stage this year within weeks. 
"Cameron and Mark Connolly are definitely getting close to a full return," Paddy McLaughlin revealed. "They are back on the grass which is always a good sign. Once the physios at the club let the players get their boots on and get on the grass, you know it's coming very shortly. 
"Patrick will have to wait another week or two before he gets back on the pitch and obviously with Collie Whelan, we're still waiting on the result of that scan injury. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. He's had a horrible time of it with injury so it would be great to get good news on him. We're inching closer to a full squad of players being available and when you do you we're as good as anyone in the division and then we'll really kick on."
The fact that Derry City sit in third place in the Premier Division, just three points behind tomorrow's opponents Bohemians, despite all those injury problems, is remarkable in itself and McLaughlin praised the attitude of the squad for getting to this point so far.
"We're sitting in a good place," he agreed. "We're sitting tucked in nicely in behind the leaders and for so many injuries and a couple of disappointing results, you wouldn't think that was the case with the doom and gloom that was out there. It wasn't within the camp at all; the players have been brilliant and week on week they are looking forward to every game and they have shown that in their performances and the results over the last few weeks, since I've been here, have been superb. 
"It's important that we keep that mindset going to Dublin on Friday night. It's a tough game against the league leaders. They are playing really well all season, so it's important to go down there, try and nullify their threat and play on the front foot which is what we're good at."

Away record
Derry City's away record has been exceptional so far this season and they head to Dalymount Park looking for their sixth victory in eight games on the road. Another win tomorrow would take them level with Bohemians.
"Our away record has been brilliant," McLaughlin stated. "The surface is the main motivator for me going there. It's a big pitch with a good surface and it's something that all players should want to play on. 
“The atmosphere also at Dalymount this year has been brilliant for the players; a lot of the games have been sold out, and we have a team full of big game players who love the big occasion and this will be a big occasion against the league leaders. they don't come much bigger than that.” 
Bohs have stuttered somewhat with just two wins in their last five league games since winning at the Brandywell, but that still doesn't take away from the fine job that former Derry City boss Declan Devine is doing in Dublin. 
“He's done brilliantly down there,” McLaughlin continued. “Even in his time at Derry as a manager he did a great job too, winning the cup and getting them into Europe. He's done a fantastic job wherever he's gone and it's no surprise that he's doing so well at Bohemians. Obviously, he becomes the enemy for 90 minutes on Friday night, but it will be good to see him down there. He deserves all the plaudits and the credit that he's getting at the minute, but we're going down there to try and get a result which we're more than capable of doing if we play at the level we expect.”
Meanwhile, McLaughlin has explained why he is not as vociferous on the sidelines as some fans may have expected since returning to the club as Higgins' assistant. 
 “Ruaidhri does brilliantly giving his instructions before and during the game,” he explained. “I don't think the players want to be confused with too many people roaring and shouting; it's not my style to roar and shout. I like to take in what I'm seeing and then speak to players before the match, at half time and after the game. I enjoy the role that I'm doing. It's great to be back. The professionalism and the standards that Ruaidhri and the players have all set has been fascinating to see. It has gone brilliantly for me and I'm enjoying my role and I'm enjoying what we're doing and hopefully we can continue and be as successful as we possibly can.”