Darren Mullen looks to get Newry City back on track against Institute

Mullen’s men played well at the weekend but still came out 3-1 losers to Ballymena United.

Stute will be on a high after their 3-3 draw Glenavon and Mullen expects a tough encounter.

“We know it will be tough and tight game. We played them at the start of the season and it was probable our worse performance of the season, so we have to play better this time around.

“And their striker Michael McCrudden is on fire at the minute and hopefully we can get a few bodies back in.

“I don’t think games against Ballymena are going to define our season. It’s games against teams around us that will determine our season.”

And Institute have an injury crisis, as they prepare for their fourth game in 10 days.

Boss Paddy McLaughlin has a number of defenders extremely doubtful for this afternoon’s encounter at Newry Showgrounds.

Centre-back’s Mark Scoltock and Caoimhin Bonner, along with wing-backs Ryan Morrow and Jamie Dunne are all injury concerns.

“Scotly has a knee problem, which he picked up against Glenavon, while Bonne has a serious chest infection, which meant he missed Saturday’s game at Glenavon. We are struggling,” he insisted.