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Foster hits out at Daly as Cawley faces six weeks on the sidelines
DUNDALK manager Ian Foster has hit out at former Lilywhite midfielder Michael Daly for his part in the incident which led to Alan Cawley being removed to hospital during Sunday's Louth derby.
Cawley underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a triple fracture of his jaw after being caught with a stray elbow by Daly in the 16th minute of the 2-2 draw.
The injury is expected to keep him out for a minimum of four weeks and after viewing the incident on TV, Foster expressed his displeasure at Daly's actions.
"It's a nasty injury. I'm not particularly pleased with Michael Daly over that. I've looked at the incident on the video and Daly has led with his arm. He did it again in the second-half on Tom Miller. The referee booked him for that because he seen what happened with Alan Cawley in the first half but it should have been a straight red. For me he has intended to do Alan and it doesn't come any worse than that in my eyes."
It is a massive blow for Cawley, who was starting his first league game for Dundalk, but Foster has backed him to return stronger than ever.
"We'll miss him, there's no doubt about it", he said. "It's disappointing and it upset us on Sunday. He is there to get the ball down and play and it did knock us when he went off.
"He'll have a metal plate inserted into it which won't be removed", explained Foster. "We're hoping it's a four to six week job at the most but it depends what the surgeon finds when he goes in for the operation. Hopefully there is no fragments and it is just a straightforward fracture that he can repair. We will look at getting him some sort of protective mask to shorten the recovery time because he will be desperate to get back on the pitch."
Cawley's injury leaves Foster with a lack of cover in the midfield area but he has moved to soften the blow by securing the signature of local teenager Stephen McDonnell who left Celtic at the turn of this year.
McDonnell played in the pre-season opener with Athlone Town in February and Foster insists he will have no hesitation in using the youngster when his fitness levels improve.
"Stephen played 90 minutes and scored against Shelbourne in an A-team game the other night.
"It's not the right time to throw him in but he's part and parcel of our squad now and once he is up to scratch then he will definitely be in contention", he added.
gavin@dundalkdemocrat.ie
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Weather for Dundalk
Thursday 17 May 2012
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