John Russell will take his Sligo Rovers side to Eamon Deacy Park to face his home town club for the first time, as the Bit O’Red travel south to take on Galway United, kick-off 7.45pm.

This Premier Division clash will be Rovers’ first top flight tussle in Galway since 2017, following the Tribesmen’s promotion from the First Division last year. 

Rovers will again be without John Mahon and Nando Pijanker who continue their rehab on respective achilles and rib injuries. While wide men Will Fitzgerald (foot) and Simon Power (groin) are also set to miss this latest Connacht derby.

There is good news for Russell who welcomes JR Wilson back from suspension after he missed Rovers’ superb May Bank Holiday Monday win over St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds. 

Speaking ahead of Rovers’ first visit to Galway in all competitions since a narrow one goal win down there in the EA Sports Cup in 2018, Russell says his side are in buoyant humour following that defeat of the Saints.

“The players have rested well and it’s another quick turnaround to Galway. We know how big of a game this is for both clubs and sets of supporters and I’d imagine we’ll have a good crowd heading down there. It’s a massive game”, he said. 

“Galway have surprised a few since they were promoted. They’re on a great run of form at the moment so we need to maximise our performance levels to get a result down there.

“This league is so competitive and anyone can beat anyone on their day. We’ve seen that so many times since the start of the season with teams at the bottom picking up results against those towards the top.

“The win over Pat’s was important of course. But it is vital now that we go to Galway and continue to build momentum.”