New Dundalk signing Kearns available to face UCD

Dundalk entertain UCD in tonight’s Airtricity League Premier Division clash at Oriel Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

New signing Daniel Kearns should be available for Dundalk, while Dean Bennett, Matthew Tipton and Simon Madden may also make home debuts.

Dundalk will be without Liam Burns and Alan Cawley, while striker Steven Lennon is a doubt.

Stephen Maher is also out due to a groin injury, while Garry Breen is still sick with jaundice.

Dundalk boss Ian Foster said: "We’re looking forward to playing against an excellent UCD side. We’re desperate to get back on track and back to winning ways. However, we appreciate that it’s going to be very tough this evening against good opposition.

“Last time out against UCD, back at the end of May, we were second best all over the pitch. But we’ll be looking back to the home game seven weeks earlier where we created an awful lot of chances and won the game 3-0."

UCD midfielder Greg Bolger is available to face Dundalk after serving a one-match ban.

Graham Rusk is also included in the travelling squad after recovering from a shin injury, while Brian Shortall, Sean Harding and David McMillan remain out.

College manager Martin Russell said: “We have a score to settle with Dundalk to whom we gifted goals on our last visit.

“Now is the time for us to get back on track following our disappointing home defeat by Galway last week in a match we dominated for long periods. There’s not too much wrong with our performances, we need to translate it into points.”