DERRY CITY: Maximilian Karner in line to make debut at Wanderers

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels could give new signing Maximilian Karner his debut at Bray Wanderers tomorrow night (Kick-Off 7.45 pm).

Shiels, who admits he doesn’t know when centre-back pairing, Ryan McBride and Aaron Barry will be fit, watched the Austrian play alongside Cristian Castells in a friendly match against Coleraine on Tuesday night and he was impressed with what he saw.

The Derry boss believes his team is coming up against the in-form side in the Premier Division after Wanderers went eight games unbeaten - including impressive victories over league leaders Dundalk and Galway United in their last two outings.

“They haven’t been beaten since they played us last and they have kept a lot of clean sheets,” explained Shiels, “We know how tough this going to be but I’m really hopeful we can go there and get something.”

Since his appointment in June as new Wanderers manager Harry Kenny has got the ‘Seagulls’ flying up the table. “Harry has done well and has used his contacts by bringing in a lot Shamrock Rovers players and players from that area,” added Shiels.

“They look a lot stronger and more solid than what they were so it’s a really tough opponent for us.”

The Derry boss has no new injury problems going into the game.

“Aaron and Ryan are going to be out for a while and I can’t say how long, because Aaron has a very inconsistent injury. Sometimes he feels it’s getting better and then it’s not as good as it was and I can’t see them playing this side of September,” he added.

“Max and Cristian are both available for selection and we are going to work on that at training.”

Shiels also confirmed that he has offered professional contracts to trio Conor McDermott, Ben Doherty and Rory Holden, while Aaron McEneff has also been offered a contract extension.

“Aaron, Conor, Ben and Rory are good young boys and we are working hard to get them signed, they are players for the future for this club,” he stated.

“We are working on signing them and I think we need to let the supporters know that is what we are doing but at the same time we don’t want to be presumptuous, but they are almost there.”