CLIFTONVILLE boss Jim Magilton will have a body count on his hands and will be hoping to get some late business done as the Reds begin their Toals County Antrim Shield campaign this evening.
Last season’s beaten finalists take on Knockbreda at Solitude this evening (7.45 kick-off), looking to go one better than last season when they lost in a shoot-out to Carrick Rangers at Seaview.
Coming off the back of successive league defeats and their first at home at the weekend, Magilton is hopeful that they can put things right and is targeting some late additions ahead of the transfer window closing.
“Losing 2-0 at home, you don’t want to lose your home games,” Magilton acknowledged.
“We’ve got to regroup. The good thing is we’ve got a game on Tuesday. We’ve got a few walking wounded and we have to regroup then we have to try and get one or two in before the window closes."
Magilton in particular is targeting a new goalkeeper with PJ Morrison departing through injury early in the second half of Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Dungannon Swifts with deputy Lewis Ridd also facing a period on the sidelines through injury.
“We’re looking at a goalkeeper, we’re two down,” he said. “We don’t know how severe PJ is, he’s in a lot of pain. He was holding his ribs and anybody who has ever had a rib injury can tell you it is agony.
“We’ve a 16-year-old and hopefully we have one in, because Lewis Ridd is out for a number of weeks and could even be longer. We’ve got one hopefully, as long as everything gets cleared and then we are looking for other bodies."
As well as a new goalkeeper, the Reds boss is eager to get another addition in the door and isn’t anticipating any late departures from Solitude.
“We just can’t afford [to let anybody go],” Magilton admitted.
“Every weekend, if we lose one or two bodies then it decimates our squad. Shaun Leppard was our 19th man today, he was the only other one fit.
“Rhyss Campbell is making good progress and will probably be available at the weekend. Ryan Corrigan is making great progress, and he will be available in the next few weeks. That is good, but we are obviously trying to strengthen”.
