Greg Bolger in race to make Cork City’s Europa League sellout

Midfielder Greg Bolger remains Cork City’s only injury doubt ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League third qualifying round second leg against Belgium’s KRC Genk at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).

The influential midfielder, who has been captaining the side in the absence of John Dunleavy – who, along with John Kavanagh, won’t play again this season – sustained an ankle-ligament injury in the first leg of the first-round tie against Linfield and sat out the return game.

He played both games as City beat BK Häcken, impressing so much the Swedish club have expressed an interest in signing the Wexfordman, and was also passed fit for the 1-0 defeat in Belgium last week.

Before each of the past three games, however, City manager John Caulfield has insisted Bolger’s fitness is a fragile thing and he is likely to face a late fitness test again before tomorrow night.

While City have signed veteran defender Dave Mulcahy and goalkeeper Eric Grimes (a Cork native) in the past week, neither is eligible for European competition.

Genk manager Peter Maes will be keen to ensure his side stick to the task at hand.

“We have been told about the atmosphere and the fans in Cork,” he said in the post-match press conference after last week’s game.

“It’s important we play our own game and we don’t go with them in the fight. It’s important we try to play better, if the focus is good, we’ll have a good game but anything can happen.”

The game is a sellout – the last City game at Turner’s Cross to do so was the 2008 Setanta Sports Cup final against Glentoran.

Prior to that, the 2005 eircom League decider against Derry City and the subsequent 2006 Champions League qualifier against Red Star Belgrade also sold out, though the latter took place while the Curragh Road Stand was under construction.