O’Donnell keen to add more depth to Dundalk squad

Although Dundalk FC head coach Stephen O’Donnell says no new signings are imminent ahead of the SSE Airtricity League campaign, he admits he’s still seeking fresh recruits.

Having already acquired the likes of Louie Annesley, Connor Malley, Hayden Muller, Cameron Elliott and Archie Davies from the UK, it is believed O’Donnell is still looking to bring in up to two more players from that same market, where loan deals remain a possibility until the closure of the League of Ireland transfer window on February 22nd. 

Closer to home, The Lilywhites are also understood to be keeping tabs on UCD defender Sam Todd, but they face stiff competition from Bohemians and Derry City for his signature.

Any potential deal for the 24-year-old wouldn’t be completed until the summer, however, when the Donegal native finishes his university scholarship, but all three clubs are hoping to tie down the ex-Finn Harps man to a pre-contract agreement this month.

“There’s nothing really imminent yet,” claimed O’Donnell, when quizzed on possible new players.

“We’re still on the lookout. We’ll hopefully do that, obviously before the window closes, but there’s nothing imminent yet anyway. I know what we want and what I think we need. As I said, we’ll be trying our hardest to get hopefully another two maybe.”

The Lilywhites were without the injured Nathan Shepperd and Paul Doyle (both ankle) for the Jim Malone Cup match in Drogheda, but both featured in Tuesday night’s friendly against Wexford at Oriel Park. 

However, Robbie McCourt underwent a hernia operation last week and isn’t expected to resume training for approximately one month, while the club are awaiting another update on John Mountney’s knee injury, which is due on February 16th.