Bird's return for St Pat's in doubt

Tony Bird’s expected return to St Patrick's Athletic colours tonight at Drogheda United could be postponed.

The Welsh striker was due to turn out for the Saints in tonight’s eircom League game at United Park (7.45pm) after he reportedly resolved a financial dispute with the club which saw him sit out games against Shelbourne and Derry City.

A back injury, though, makes Bird a doubt for the trip to Louth and he will join midfield groin injury victims Paul Osam and Joseph Ndo in taking late fitness tests.

A St Patrick’s spokesman admitted the trio were all “struggling” while Darragh Maguire is definitely out serving a one-match ban.

Drogheda will be better staffed tonight although centre-back Steven Gray is suspended and midfielder Alan Reilly is still resting his injured knee after he suffered a setback on his return from medial ligament damage.

Drogs manager Paul Doolin has the option to hand a debut to Dutch left-back Jermaine Sandvliet but with his existing players having got the club to third place in the table he is reluctant to make changes for their own sake.