James McClean a Doubt for Derry City's FAI Cup Tie

Derry City's James McClean is a doubt for the FAI Cup third-round match against UCD on Friday night. The 37-year-old has been managing a chronic hip injury since his return.

Mark Connolly, Derry's director of football, confirmed that McClean remains a member of the squad but would not confirm his availability for the match. "James is a Derry City player," Connolly said. "Ultimately, he has trained sometimes and he hasn’t trained sometimes due to his age."

What Happened?

UCD are having a decent campaign in the First Division, where goal difference separates them from Bray Wanderers in the promotion playoff place with nine matches remaining. Ciaran Behan and Hugh Smith have scored 18 goals between them, while Willie O’Connor’s side includes plenty of young talent, including former Shamrock Rovers teenagers Goodness Ogbonna and Charles Akinrintayo.

Why it Matters for Derry City

Derry City has been asked to confirm whether a contract termination letter was sent to McClean and if he is fit for inclusion on Friday, having not played since their second-round cup fixture against Tolka Rovers on July 19th. Considering Derry sit sixth in the Premier Division, 10 points behind Bohemians in the final European spot, the cup is Derry’s clearest route to Europe next season.

What Comes Next?

Derry City will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 loss to Sligo Rovers in their last result on August 7th. The team is currently sixth in the Premier Division, with 33 points from 27 games, and has a recent form of 2W-2D-1L (WWDDL, most recent first). They are 21 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers in the title race and will be looking to make a statement in the FAI Cup.

Next Fixture

Derry City's next fixture is against UCD in the FAI Cup third round on Friday night, with the match kicking off at 7:45pm at the UCD Bowl. The team will be looking to get back to winning ways and make a statement in the competition.

Recent Form

Derry City's recent form has been 2W-2D-1L (WWDDL, most recent first), with their last result being a 2-0 loss to Sligo Rovers on August 7th. They have scored 35 goals this season and conceded 32, with a goal difference of +3.

League Standing

Derry City are currently sixth in the Premier Division, with 33 points from 27 games. They are 10 points behind Bohemians in the final European spot and will be looking to make a push for the top spot in the league.

Image Prompt

A photorealistic image of a Derry City player, aged 25-30, wearing a blue jersey with white sleeves and a white pair of shorts, with a white pair of boots. The player is in the middle of a sprint, with their legs stretched out and their arms pumping. The background is a blurred, out-of-focus image of the UCD Bowl stadium. The image is shot with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, with a shallow depth of field and a floodlight rim light. The player's face is visible, with a determined expression, and their eyes are sharp and focused.