Soccer National LeagueSligo Rovers manager Seán Connor wants Paul McTiernan's Eircom Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland player of the month award for June to act as an incentive for the club's board to provide further funding to strengthen his squad.
Striker McTiernan scored four times last month, both double strikes in successive matches against Bohemians and Derry City, as Sligo consolidated their position in the top half of the table.
"It's great recognition for the club and the supporters," said Connor of the award. "Hopefully it gives the board encouragement to keep backing me and giving more money for players."
Connor believes McTiernan is reaping the benefits of having gone full-time at the start of the season.
"I'm delighted for Paul because it was a big step for him to go full-time," said Connor. "I told him at the time that it would benefit him as a player and his career long-term.
"It's taken him a little bit of time to settle into the Premier Division, but I think the last four or five games he's come into his own.
"He's as good a box player as there is in the league while his work-rate is phenomenal."
Connor is forced into one change for the visit of Dublin City to the Showgrounds tonight - Sligo having switched their home games from Saturday in an effort to improve attendances - with Seán Kelly in line to start at left-back in place of Keith Foy, who will be out for up to a fortnight with a knee injury.
Dublin City have been told that striker Robbie Collins is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury suffered in training two weeks ago.
Skipper Stuart Malcolm and Ger McCarthy remain out with ankle injuries. David McGill completes a two-match ban, though fellow midfielder Paul Shiels returns from suspension.
Bohemians manager Gareth Farrelly has said there has been no formal bids for either John Paul Kelly or Tony Grant from Norwegian club Lillestroem and Drogheda United respectively.
Lillestroem are believed to have watched former Liverpool trainee and Ireland under-19 captain Kelly in recent weeks, while Grant was a transfer target for Drogheda prior to their signing of Eamon Zayed earlier in the week.
Fergal Harkin remains out injured for Bohemians ahead of the visit of Derry City to Dalymount Park tonight, though captain Kevin Hunt returns having missed their last two games through suspension and illness.
Derry, who've yet to win in Dublin this season, are without the suspended Gareth McGlynn, while fellow midfielder Eamon Doherty is ruled out, along with the long-term injured Pat McCourt, with a hamstring injury.
Irish youth international midfielder Neil McCafferty, previously of Charlton and Rushden and Diamonds, may make his debut having completed his signing for his home-town club yesterday.
Zayed makes his debut for Drogheda United against St Patrick's Athletic at United Park, a direct replacement up front for club captain Declan O'Brien, who now may not miss the remainder of the season, as was initially feared, following his broken jaw at Bray last Sunday.
Steven Gray and James Keddy remain sidelined, however.
St Patrick's Athletic are at full strength.
TONIGHT (7.45 unless stated)
PREMIER DIVISION: Bohemians v Derry City; Drogheda United v St Patrick's Athletic; Sligo Rovers v Dublin City.
FIRST DIVISION: Galway United v Kildare County; Limerick FC v Shamrock Rovers; Monaghan United v Dundalk (8.0)
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