Already missing the injured Keith Fahey, Shamrock Rovers must begin their Europa League campaign in Luxembourg on Tuesday night without their other experienced ex-international, Stephen McPhail.
The former Cardiff captain, who enjoyed runs to the Champions League and Uefa Cup semi-finals earlier in his career with Leeds, strained a hamstring in last Friday’s 2-1 win at Galway United.
And though all of his squad, bar Sean O'Connor, who is in plaster after Achilles surgery, travelled on the team's four-hour delayed charter yesterday afternoon, manager Pat Fenlon must also select his starting XI without his captain Connor Kenna due to his niggling groin injury.
Fenlon’s preparations have been hampered by scant information on the side that fished fourth in the Luxembourg league last season.
Back in Europe for the first time since 1982, FC Progrès Niederkorn beat F91 Dudelange, who play UCD in the same competition on Thursday, 3-1 in a friendly at the weekend. But knowledge of it came too late for a Rovers ’ eye to view the proceedings.
“It is a little bit into the unknown,” said Fenlon. “But we’ll prepare the players as best we can. I’ve got some stuff from people in Scotland and we put together a DVD.”
Application
Though Rovers go into the tie warm favourites, Fenlon, who managed Bohemians when they were surprisingly tanked 4-0 by Welsh club TNS five years ago, knows not to take anything for granted.
“They’ll be a decent standard, so we have to make sure we apply ourselves right,” says Fenlon.
Uefa’s sizeable increase in prize money this year means clubs in the Europa League stand to earn an additional €210,000, on top of the €200,000 already netted for qualifying, for getting through to the second round.
“It can be a big help to a League of Ireland club going through to another round.
"Players may not think of the financial end of it, but I do as a manager," he added. SHAMROCK ROVERS (probable): Hyland; Madden, Webster, Clancy, Byrne; Cregg, R. Brennan; Waters, Miele, McCabe; Drennan
