Shelbourne sign Dutch keeper as cover ahead of Champions League clash with Qarabag

DUTCH GOLD: New signing Wessel Speel poses for a portrait before a Shelbourne press conference at Tolka Park. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Shelbourne have drafted in Dutch goalkeeper Wessel Speel as cover ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League second round first leg clash against Qarabag.

Regular custodian Conor Kearns was forced off with a hamstring during the first half of last Wednesday’s second leg at Linfield, with substitute Lorcan Healy seeing out the 1-1 draw that clinched an aggregate 2-1 triumph.

Speel comes to Tolka Park highly recommended, the 6'7” stopper making three appearances for MLS side Minnesota United this year, but Healy is expected to keep his place for the visit of the Azerbaijani champions.

“He’s a player we’ve been following since he came onto our radar about six months ago,” said Shels boss Joey O’Brien, admitting the Kearns hamstring tear hastened the recruitment process.

“Conor will be out for a few weeks. An opportunity came up for him (Speel) to come in and I think he’s going to add real competition to that goalkeeping department.”

Shels are up against a team that have reached the group stages of European competition for 11 seasons in a row.

One piece of solace, which former Ireland defender O’Brien derives, is the difference in season formats. 

Qarabag are, like most of Europe, in the early throes of pre-season.

“It’s definitely something I’ve found over the years when you’re playing teams because fitness is a big thing,” he explained.

“We’re right in the middle of our season. Sometimes they lack match sharpness but once you have quality you, don’t lose it.”

Despite the gulf in resources, Shels won’t be conservative before the trek to the edge of Eastern Europe next week.

Regardless of the outcome, they are guaranteed two additional ties in the Europa and Conference should they be eliminated from Uefa’s supreme competition.

“This is our home game so it’s on us to get the atmosphere going, get on the front foot and go after them,” added O’Brien.

“A lot was made of the finances from beating Linfield but from our point of view, it's a great opportunity.

“To win a Champions League game, having that on your CV, is brilliant for a player. To go into the next round and play against the opposition we are playing only comes about because we won the first tie.

“I’m going to attack it, try and get on the front foot.

“Obviously I know they are going to be a quality team who have some serious players but with the way I want to be as a player and want my team to play, I want our team to show our personality and our quality.”