New Dungannon Swifts recruit hoping to help club 'stay up there and keep going' in push for Premiership top-six finish

Former Drogheda United ace Bermingham joined Rodney McAree’s Swifts ahead of the January transfer window opening and marked his debut by scoring in last weekend’s 5-0 Irish Cup triumph over third-tier Rathfriland Rangers.

The 23-year-old, who was also previously on the books of St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians, has recently returned from time in America, enjoying spells at William Carey University in Mississippi and University of Rhode Island.

Bermingham is set to get his first taste of Premiership action when the Swifts travel to Crusaders on Saturday looking to maintain their pursuit of a top-six finish – Dungannon currently sit third, just two points adrift of second-placed Glentoran.

"I spoke to Rodney when I was still in America because I was trying to decide my plans about coming back and I enjoyed chatting to him,” he said. “He was keen and it has went from there.

"It's a great club to be at to push on and hopefully we can do well.

"The lads have been great and I've settled in well. The standard is really good here. We're up there in the league this season so hopefully we can stay up there and keep going.

"Rod is class. Even when I spoke to him on the phone you got that sense that he knows what he's doing and that has shown. Hopefully we can keep it going."

McAree continues to compile a talented squad with superb attacking options after Bermingham joined the likes of John McGovern and Andrew Mitchell, who both also scored last weekend, at Stangmore Park and feels competition for places can only benefit the team.

"Like in any good team there's competition here and I think the better the competition then the better we will do,” he added. “You have Mitch, myself and John coming off the bench to score twice in Saturday's win so there is a lot of competition but that's good for us and the club.

"It's going to be a short window because I've came in during January so I want to contribute with as many goals and assists as I can and hopefully the results take care of themselves so we can push on."