Shamrock Rovers wide man Sean Kavanagh will miss the start of the new season and faces up to three months out.
Hoops star Kavanagh carried a knock into the FAI Cup final and recently had surgery on a chipped bone in his knee.
Boss Stephen Bradley said yesterday: “He’s six weeks over it but Seán will miss the first two or three months.
“Seán is obviously a very important player for us but we’re fortunate to have Danny (Lafferty) and Neil (Farrugia).”
While Kavanagh faces time out, Jack Byrne is ready to tear into the new season - starting with Sunday’s President’s Cup clash with Dundalk.
Speculation raged over the winter as to whether the Ireland international would still be a Rovers player this year.
Bradley said yesterday: “We had a lot of phone calls, obviously. But I always felt Jack would be here because we have a really good relationship.
“He’s a top player, the best player in the country. He’s an international and has earned the right to have that interest.
“And when you get the phone calls, you obviously take them and have the conversation.
“You’re going to get the interest after what he has done last year. It’s up to him now to go again this year and I think he will.”
When Byrne signed for Rovers this time last season, he was chasing fitness and sharpness.
But the midfield ace believes he has never been in better condition as he turns his attention to the new campaign.
Byrne said yesterday: “I knew I was going to be here. It’s not my decision to make -it’s the club’s decision. I’m here [until] the club tells me I’m not.
“I’ve lost a bit of weight since this time last year. I wasn’t playing as regularly as I would have wanted to before I came back here. I was chasing fitness.
“I feel good this year. A friend of mine is a good PT, Jamie Goonery in Pollyfitness and I do heat and cardio classes with him.
“I’ve been using Shane Murphy from Man City. He’s now over here in Dublin and I’ve been doing a lot of strength work with him to stay on top of the game.”
.png?w=600)
