Stephen O’Donnell expects John Mountney and Robbie Benson to play key roles in the remainder of their season despite picking up serious injuries in recent weeks.
The Athletic make the arduous trip north to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps tonight safe in the knowledge that a win by four will see them top the table on goal difference.
With Shamrock Rovers’ tie with Bohemians postponed due to the former’s European schedule, O’Donnell’s side have been able to close the gap on the league leaders.
They will go to Donegal without three of their most experienced players, though, after Lee Desmond joined Benson and Mountney in the treatment room.
Defender Desmond was unconscious for several minutes after a clash of heads during last week’s 2-1 win over Waterford and spent the night in hospital.
Mountney is set to miss the remainder of the season, and then, after confirmation this week that he ruptured his cruciate knee ligaments in the 4-1 win over his former club Dundalk.
Captain Benson is also set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ongoing quad issue, while the timeline on Desmond’s return is uncertain as he undergoes concussion protocols.
Mountney is set for a particularly gruelling few months in recovery and O’Donnell, a former teammate of his at Dundalk, has backed him to step up behind the scenes.
“John has unfortunately done his cruciate, so it’s a big blow obviously for us and for John personally,” said O’Donnell.
“He doesn’t deserve that. The type of professional he is and the type of person he is doesn’t deserve a blow like that, but he’ll come back stronger than ever.
“I have no issues with regard his mentality. If any man will bounce back and give rehab the best possible effort, it’ll be John.”
He added: “Robbie will be out for the foreseeable future too – two big characters and two big losses on the football side but they’ll still have a huge impact around the group.
“They’re two selfless individuals who, even though they’ll be injured, they will be wired in to support the rest of the group. People don’t see the kind of impact these boys have.
“They only see matches on a Friday but they don’t see what they do around the training ground to create that camaradery and that unity we have now.
“If anything it’s only gotten stronger since the incident [with Desmond]. When lads see one of their teammates down like Lee was, it does create that even tighter bond.”
O’Donnell could hand a debut to Jak Hickman, pending international clearance, the full-back arriving after helping Bolton Wanderers to promotion from League Two last term.
Saints won the first meeting between the sides 2-0 at Finn Park, before recording a 4-1 win back in Inchicore, but O’Donnell is taking nothing for granted against a resurgent Harps.
"They went through a bit of a lean spell, but they've won their last two games. They will be sky high with confidence and looking forward to welcoming us up to Ballybofey.
“We just have to go again, show the same appetite and aptitude to work and we will see where that takes us."
