Blues miss Bruton for visit of Pats

Waterford United’s hopes of continuing with a three-pronged attack against St Patrick’s Athletic at the RSC tonight (7.30pm) have been dashed by the recurrence of a shoulder injury to Willie Bruton.

Bruton made his comeback from the injury on Tuesday night, playing just behind Daryl Murphy and Vinny Sullivan in the 3-1 win over Shamrock Rovers.

But he finished the game in pain from the shoulder and will miss tonight’s game as the second-placed Blues bid for a third win in a row.

Waterford’s injury doubt remains Kevin O’Brien, with a thigh problem while Wayne Fitzgerald definitely misses out following knee surgery, although centre-back David Mulcahy returns from suspension.

Pat’s, meanwhile, will still be reeling from blowing a 1-0 lead in the fourth-minute of injury time at Longford in midweek.

The two points dropped due to Vinny Perth’s equaliser means the Dubliners are still deeply involved in the scrap to avoid the one relegation spot.

Defenders Karim El Khebir and Colm Foley face fitness tests on their rib and calf injuries respectively but Barry Prenderville is out.