NO bitterness, no grudges, no points to prove; Paul Doolin, returns to Derry City for the first time since his surprise early-season transfer to Bohemians as the consummate pro that he is. Just another game and all that?

Well, not quite. This, after all, is the meeting of the league's top two at the start of a busy week and is given added piquancy by Doolin's return. He admits he would be lying if he said it wasn't a little bit the time I had up there. In fact, I thought I would probably have finished my career with Derry. I'd signed a two-year contract which would have kept me there until I was 35.

Doolin was thus as surprised as the rest of us when Turlough O'Connor brought his career full circle, by bringing him back to the club where his 14-year league career all started, a week into the league campaign. "Felix (Healy) had a preference for Peter Hutton and Paul Hegarty which is fine. I've no problems with that."

Healy has subsequently stated that Hutton's younger legs were the primary factor in preferring Derry's leading scorer to Doolin for the box-to-box role in which Hutton has thrived this season. Yet in point of fact, as last season evolved Doolin had adopted more "of the holding role in which he is now employed with Bohemians.

Doolin also reveals that "it doesn't surprise me in the least that Peter is doing so well and scoring so freely. I wanted him to play in midfield last year. Although it has to be said that Liam Coyle makes a huge difference to Peter's game and Derry's. If Derry had had Liam last season it would have added another dimension to their game."

Arguably no one player in the domestic game adds more to one team's performance than Coyle at Derry. Doolin continually uses the word "vision", and if you were to package Hutton's eight league goals this season, the sight of Coyle drifting wide and timing the final pass perfectly would be a recurring theme.

Recognising these threats is one thing, countering them is another, even with insider information. "Peter has a phenomenal engine. You'd need to be a Rolls Royce to keep up with him." As for the beguilingly skilful Coyle, Doolin admits: "We can't let Liam turn with the ball or we'll be in trouble. His control and awareness is unreal."

Derry are more of the form team at the moment, having scored 19 goals in taking 16 points from their last six games. Admittedly, only one of those games has been against a top eight side, but. Doolin doesn't subscribe to the view that this has placed Derry in something of a false position. "They're scoring goals for fun and, they play with a lot of strength and pace throughout the team. Felix has them very fit.",

By contrast, Bohemians do not seem to be playing with quite the same fluency and confidence which marked their early run of six wins and a draw in their first seven games. "But we were nicking some games that we might have drawn or even lost and even then I was saying that it would be much tighter by Christmas. You'd like to think you could be seven or eight points clear but in reality it rarely happens. It's now such a tight, competitive league that anyone within five points or so would be happy enough."

Doolin's arrival had been a major impetus in that early run. In his debut against Shelbourne Bohemians were being over-run until the wily Doolin began to sit a little deeper, reading the game superbly, breaking up Shelbourne's passing rhythm and giving Bohemians a foothold in a superb encounter which they eventually won.

The two games with Shelbourne stand out, "they're always open enough" but otherwise, in general, Doolin feels there are "not enough games where there is good football being played. It's too physical and the games are too tight, no one wants to lose. I wouldn't say we're over-doing the football either, but we have our moments. We're not really a team with lots of individuals. We're more of a solid team."

Undoubtedly the most enduringly effective midfielder in the domestic game over the last 14 years, allowing for two spells in Portadown, Doolin's initial form was sensational. He admits he couldn't have maintained that form throughout the season, but is content enough with his own performances. He remains a vital cog in the wheel.

Derry fans should appreciate his abilities more than most. "The second time around they appreciated me more than the first time. I think they'd admit that themselves." Ironically, the two Cup semi-finals replays of two seasons ago when he helped Derry overcome Bohemians stand out on their own. "The night we beat Bohs 3-2 was unbelievable; I've never known a night like it.

"I'm looking forward to going back. It's a good pitch, a good setup and, although it won't decide anything, it's a big game. There's no sour grapes on my part. I don't feel I've anything to prove.