Dylan Connolly will sit out the game between Bray Wanderers and Dundalk as the 22 year-old completes a €40,000 move to the league champions.
The winger, who Stephen Kenny tried to sign in the close season, has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal and while it is not clear whether the paperwork will be completed on Friday, it is expected that he will watch from the stand at the Carlisle Ground before making his debut against Bohemians next Wednesday.
Harry Kenny will also be without Tim Clancy and Derek Foran for Friday's game with the pair suspended and so Hugh Douglas is expected to partner Conor Kenna in central defence as the hosts look to contain a team that has scored 12 goals without reply in their three games since the break.
“They’re back at it alright,” says Kenny whose own side lie third after last week’s defeat of Galway.
He was in Oriel Park on Monday night to see Dundalk beat them too and admits that the title holders “bashed” Shane Keegan’s side.
“We beat them 3-1 up there, though,” he says. “It flattered us on the night but we won and we’re going okay now too so we’ll go into the game with some confidence.”
Having made four changes in midweek, Stephen Kenny is likely to shake things up again as he continues to weigh up his options ahead of the Rosenborg games.
Keegan, meanwhile, will bring back David Cawley and Ronan Murray for the relegation six-pointer at St Patrick's Athletic. The Dubliners have Darren Dennehy out injured and Ian Bermingham suspended while Kurtis Byrne faces a late fitness test on a hamstring problem..
In the night’s other top-flight game, Thomas Byrne is again suspended for Drogheda who face Limerick. side aiming to keep a first clean sheet in 12 games.
Fixtures (7.45 unless stated). Premier Division: Bray Wanderers v Dundalk; Drogheda United v Limerick; St Patrick's Athletic v Galway United. First Division: Shelbourne v Waterford; Wexford v UCD (8.0).
