Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins has revealed Northern Ireland star Conor McMenamin is “fully fit” despite not coming off the bench during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Dungannon Swifts – and declared “I pick the team based on what I see”.

Former Glentoran winger McMenamin completed a high-profile Irish League return from St Mirren earlier this summer, signing a long-term deal at The Showgrounds.

The 30-year-old featured in both legs of Coleraine’s Conference League qualifying defeat to HJK Helsinki last month – he started in Finland – but the wait to see McMenamin in Premiership action goes on after he remained on the bench at Stangmore Park.

Talisman Joel Cooper and prolific striker Matthew Shevlin, who scored his side’s third, both started in Co Tyrone alongside highly-rated teenager Senan Devine, while Jay Henderson and Lewis McGregor were brought on.

placeholder image — Coleraine manager Ruaidhrí Higgins. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

McMenamin could be in line for his Premiership debut when Coleraine host reigning champions Larne next weekend, but Higgins is clear his side won’t change unless performance levels drop off.

"Conor is fully fit,” said Higgins on BBC Sportsound. “I pick the team based on what I see and that’s the answer to that one.

"Henderson came in and did great, Cooper had moments of brilliance and is still getting sharpness, Shevy gets his goal, McGregor comes on and sets up a goal, Senan Devine has a couple of opportunities in the game.

"At the minute they are all doing really well, and until that changes, it won’t change.”

Higgins was dealt another defensive injury blow on Saturday with the returning Cameron Stewart forced off just before half-time.

Rob Slevin, who recently joined on loan from Derry City, received praise from both Higgins and opposition manager Rodney McAree for his debut showing.

"We’ve had problems there all pre-season and in a couple of European games, we had huge issues in that department with injuries more so than numbers,” he added. “Numbers wise we’re not too bad, it’s injuries.

"Rob Slevin did really, really well and looked like he had been here for a number of months, Lewis Webb comes in between the sticks and does really well – whoever plays we’ll back them.

"We do have issues in that area of the pitch but we’ll always score goals and we’ve come here and got three, which is brilliant.”