Ruaidhri Higgins backs Daniel Kelly to be a 'major success' at Derry City

Drogheda United vs. Derry City

Weavers Park

Tonight, 7:45pm

Ruaidhri Higgins insists there is ‘absolutely no doubt’ in his mind that Daniel Kelly will become a success at Derry City.

It was been a difficult to start to life at the Brandywell for Kelly, who still seems to be settling into his new club nine games into the new season. The 27-year-old has started four games so far, completing 90 minutes just once, and has yet to score his first goal in red and white. Goals and assists have been a big part of Kelly’s career to date, with the winger scoring 34 goals (including two hat tricks) and providing 17 assists from midfield for Dundalk in 156 appearances for the Lilywhites. It still has not happened for him at Derry City, but his manager is keeping faith that he will get back to his best.

“Scoring and creating goals is great for confidence and the one who probably hasn't sort of got to that yet is Daniel Kelly,” he acknowledged. “I know he's extremely frustrated at the minute but I've absolutely no doubt, because I've seen it, I've worked with him.

“I've seen it for years; he scores and creates goals and I've no doubt in my mind that when he has a big moment in a game for us that he'll absolutely kick on and be a really, really important player for us. He just needs to stick at it because he's definitely got what it takes to be a major success here.”

Kelly has had chances to open his account, particularly games at the Brandywell, but that first goal has continued to elude him.

“He gets in there,” Higgins insisted. “He has a real knack of getting in there. I know he's a bit disappointed that he hasn't got off the mark yet but we'll keep backing him, keep supporting him and I've no doubt that when that moment comes, he'll go from strength to strength.”

Derry City have yet to win successive games this season, and they now face a trip to a ground which has proved difficult over the years. Ruaidhri Higgins himself has managed just two league wins at Drogheda in six visits, and despite their ninth-place position in the Premier Division table, Higgins knows any win down there will be hard-earned.

“Drogheda are obviously a really tough nut to crack, particularly down there,” he admitted. “We won 1-0 down there last year when Adam O'Reilly got the goal, so we can look back on that with a bit of confidence. It was our only win in a couple of years down there; there were a lot of draws, but hopefully getting a few goals the other night and with our attacking players looking very good at the minute, hopefully we can continue that into Friday.”

O’Donnell dismissal

Last Friday’s game at the Brandywell proved to be the last in charge of Dundalk for Stephen O’Donnell, and Higgins, a close friend, believes that the former midfielder can hold his head high for what he has achieved already as a manger.

“Obviously I’m very, very disappointed for Stephen,” he said. “I think if you look, he went into management around five years ago with St. Pat’s and bar this season really, his body of work has been very, very impressive. #

“I think it's actually been underrated, some of the stuff that he's done and obviously results for him haven't gone well this year but I think you can look back, he's still only 38 years of age, but I think you can look back on his time since he's gone into management and be really proud of his achievements. I've obviously been in touch with him and I wish him nothing but the best.”

“It's not just me saying that because we have a good relationship but he's extremely bright on the game, he knows the game inside out and I've no doubt that he'll kick on.”

The key focus for Higgins now though is a win at Drogheda, and he knows from past experience that Kevin Doherty’s side never make it easy for any team at Weavers Park.

“You always find in Drogheda you can be well on top in a game and then all of a sudden you're one down or they equalise,” he agreed. “It's just that type of place, but we need to be fully focused and engaged in the game right from the first minute to the very last minute because they never seem to be out of games. They're always in games, they have a real identity and how they go about it and as long as we prepare ourselves mentally for the game properly and we can continue some of the parts of the performance from last week then there's no doubt we can get a big win down there.”