Rodney McAree explains absence of key Dungannon Swifts duo - and calls for 'same desire'
Dungannon Swifts manager Rodney McAree has explained the absence of key duo Barney McKeown and Sean McAllister from last weekend’s 1-1 Premiership draw against Linfield – and will hope to welcome the pair back for Saturday’s home clash with Limavady United.
McKeown had started in Dungannon’s first 12 league matches of the current campaign after arriving from Glenavon while talisman McAllister has scored five league goals so far this term.
Both players missed a fruitful trip to the high-flying Blues – a positive result which marked only the second time Dungannon had picked up a point or more at Windsor Park since 2020.
"Barney has had a sore calf for a few weeks and he has been playing with it,” McAree told the club’s media channel. “It has been niggling at him and unless we take him out it’s never going to heal or clear up.
"In fact, if we keep pushing him, it will end up being a six or eight-week injury, so it’s a case of taking him out and getting him right.
"Sean picked up a stray boot (on the Thursday before Linfield game) to the eye and it’s an area of the eye where we couldn’t get it taped up or protected.
"The stitches were very raw, it was very early, so there was a risk of infection and all those things the physio tells you.
"It was a case of taking Sean out and doing without him (at Linfield).”
Dungannon are winless across their last eight Premiership matches since picking up a 2-0 victory away at Limavady, who provide the opposition once again this weekend.
Having sealed BetMcLean Cup progression past Bangor last month before collecting a point on the road at title challengers Linfield, McAree has challenged his players to replicate their performance levels across the rest of this season.
"We have to take the same desire and commitment we showed against Linfield and take it into every game,” added McAree. “It’s not going to be easy, Limavady are a very good side and have done very well since stepping up into the league.
"They got a big point at Larne so we know the qualities they have, but if we can deliver the same level of performance and commitment, we give ourselves a chance, but we have to reach those levels.”