Bell possible for St Pat's debut

Irish youth international David Bell could make his St Patrick's Athletic debut as the Saints take on fellow relegation strugglers Derry City at Richmond Park tonight (7.45pm).

Midfielder Bell, 20, has been training with the Inchicore club for a month but was not available until his contract with English League Two side Rushden & Diamonds expired on June 30.

Born in Kettering, England, Bell turned down approaches from both England and Scotland to declare for the land of his Donegal-born father last year and was rewarded with a place in the Irish Under-20 squad at the World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

He comes into John McDonnell’s squad along with defender Karim El Khebir, who returns from suspension, although Joseph Ndo serves a one-match ban tonight and Barry Prenderville and Paul Donnellyare again missing through injury.

Pat’s can open a five-point gap between themselves and second-from-bottom Derry with a win tonight although a second successive win on the road for the Candystripes would see them leapfrog the Dubliners into ninth place.

The only absentee for the visitors is Gary Beckett, out with a groin injury.