St Pat’s look to bounce back against Derry

Derry City will look to stay in touch at the top of the Premier Division as they take on St Patrick’s Athletic at the Brandywell tonight (kick-off 7pm).

Should City beat Saints and win their other game in hand, they will leap-frog Cork and move to within four points of second-placed Shamrock Rovers.

St Pat’s are likely to be a bit stretched after their exertions midweek when they were beaten 3-0 by Steaua Bucharest away in Romania.

City will be looking to bounce back from their Cup exit to Sligo Rovers last weekend and they can at least take heart that they won their last league fixture 4-0.

Stephen Kenny’s squad will be bolstered by the return of Kevin Deery who missed out last week through suspension.

Sammy Morrow, Mark McCrystal and Liam Kearney all remain out injured for the Candystripes and there is a doubt over the fitness of skipper Peter Hutton as he is struggling with a thigh injury.

Saints boss Jeff Kenna travels north with a strong squad but is likely to rotate some of the side after their gruelling midweek adventures in Europe.