Derry face UCD in FAI Cup clash
Pat McCourt may return to the Derry City side for Friday's FAI Ford Cup quarter-final clash against UCD at the Brandywell (1945 BST).
McCourt missed last weekend's defeat by Drogheda but he has been able to train this week with the cup holders.
Kevin McHugh and Mark Farren should also be available despite having to go off because of injury at United Park.
Sammy Morrow, Mark McChrystal and Alan Moore all remain out for the Candystripes because of injury.
They had been fears that Morrow's knee injury could rule him out for as long as 10 months.
However, Derry manager John Robertson now expects the former Hibernian striker to be fit again in around five weeks.
Robertson has been boosted by Barry Molloy's decision to sign a three-year contract extension with the cup holders.
Molloy will be in action on Friday night and Robertson is expecting the students to give his team a difficult examination.
"It's going to be a tough game. They have a very professional set-up. They train three or four nights a week, play with a 4-5-1 formation and are always difficult to break down," said the Scotsman.
Robertson is hoping that his charges can start well in Friday's game as he feels his players have been slow to get out of the blocks in recent games.
"We don't seem to get going in the opening 10 or 15 minutes and against good teams, that can hurt you."
