Derry City face a daunting defensive test

Setanta Cup previews: With Linfield averaging close to four goals a game over the course of their runaway Irish League campaign to date, Derry City could have picked a better time to suffer a defensive crisis.

A succession of problems over the past week or so means Stephen Kenny must bring his side to Windsor Park for this evening's Setanta Cup encounter without three recognised centre backs.

In the absence of Clive Delaney, Mark McChrystal and Ken Oman, Peter Hutton is likely to be partnered by Eddie McCallion as City look to contain the Belfast team's prolific frontmen, Glenn Ferguson and Peter Thompson, in what will be the first competitive game between these two clubs in some 35 years.

"I watched them on Saturday and though the score was 3-2 they beat Ballymena very comfortably," says Kenny who also has a serious doubt over striker Gary Beckett. "They're a very good side, much better than they were last year, and they're 37 games unbeaten . . . but we were 25 games unbeaten ourselves towards the end of last season and our record against the biggest teams in our own league is very good so we won't be fearful of taking them on.

"Of course, there's the question of how quickly we come out of the blocks in our first competitive game but we're looking forward to it and confident that we can do well."

City's caution regarding the identity of those purchasing tickets for the game has severely dented the size of the travelling support but the visitors should still sell out their original 1,000-seat allocation. There is said to be considerable interest, meanwhile, among Linfield supporters in the game, which will be broadcast live on Setanta starting at 8pm this evening.

The defending champions will wait until close to kick-off before making a final call on the fitness of Noel Bailie and Tim McCann, both of whom picked up knocks in the league win over the weekend.

"There's a lot of confidence within the team because of the form that we've been in," says Linfield manager David Jeffrey, "but this is a different challenge for the lads to rise to. Derry are an excellent team, we saw that last season, but it won't be easy for them to come here for their first game and it would mean a lot to our supporters to win and put ourselves in a decent position to qualify from the group."

Phil Harrington, meanwhile, could find himself having to come out of retirement again this evening at Shamrock Park where Cork City take on Irish League outfit Portadown. First-choice goalkeeper Michael Devine is still recovering from a knee injury picked up in last week's pre-season friendly with Galway United while his number two, Mark McNulty, is suspended.

"I'm still hopeful Michael will be all right," said manager Damien Richardson yesterday. "He jarred the knee quite badly but there was no actual damage but it has been very sore."

If Devine misses out Harrington, now 43, will return to the side again following last year's brief but successful outings in the Uefa Cup and National League.

"They're a very strong side and experts when it comes to the particular tests presented by cup competitions but we've had a good pre-season, we have everybody else available and I'm confident if we play to our potential we're more than a match for anybody in this competition," says Richardson.

Portadown are without the suspended Gary Hamilton.

Shelbourne will miss Jason Byrne and Alan Moore for their opening game, against Glentoran at Tolka Park. The pair were sent off during the 2-0 defeat by Linfield in last year's final and are therefore suspended. Richie Baker is also out with a calf strain.

Dungannon Swifts' leading scorer Timmy Adamson returns from injury for his side's visit to Drogheda United while David Scullion, who came on in during the second half of Saturday's goalless draw with Distillery, is also likely to have shaken off a bout of flu sufficiently to start.

Drogheda come into the game off the back of a good pre-season with Paul Doolin's side having beaten Swiss and Norwegian opposition at their training camp in Spain before returning home to retain the Malone Cup thanks to goals from Keith Fahey and Declan O'Brien at Oriel Park on Wednesday night.

• Stephen Carr has clearly suggested he will return to international football when he is fully fit again, remarking in a statement issued by his agent that he would "most certainly talk to Steve (Staunton) if he wanted to talk to me".

The comment follows Staunton's hint last week that the return of the Newcastle defender was imminent. The new Republic of Ireland manager said he had had "very positive" talks with the full back but they had agreed that the player work at recovering his full fitness and getting some club games under his belt before a decision would be taken.