Colm Whelan is ready to unleash months of frustration on Derry City’s rivals after putting his injury nightmare behind him in style.
The highly regarded striker scored on his debut last Friday as the Candystripes ran out 3-1 winners over Cork City at Turner’s Cross.
Whelan scored Derry’s third goal, just six minutes after coming off the bench, and looks primed to leave his mark on his new club.
The Ireland Under-21 ace ruptured his cruciate ligament in May last year, playing for his former club UCD away to Finn Harps.
It was cruel timing as Whelan was strongly linked with a move to England at the time.
The Kilkenny man had his suitors here too, with Shamrock Rovers linked at one stage before Whelan moved to Derry City.
“Everyone was delighted for him when he scored last week and you could see that from the celebrations,” Candystripes midfielder Sadou Diallo told Mirror Sport.
“All the players, and even the subs, were running over to him as we've all seen the hard work he has put in with the physios and sport scientists.
“Collie has been through a lot so it was a great reward for him. We know the quality he has and he can do everything as a striker.
“He can hold up play, he runs in behind, he runs with the ball, he can create chances for himself. It's a very exciting time having him back.”
Whelan is up against Jamie McGonigle and Cian Kavanagh for starts leading the line, but that’s a welcome headache for manager Ruaidhri Higgins.
Diallo added: “Collie adds quality to the other quality strikers we already have. They are different kinds of players.
“We’ve three different strikers who all have their own attributes and strengths, but we're all really excited to play with Collie because it’s like having a new signing.”
That win on Leeside was Derry’s first victory in four games, having lost back-to-back home matches to Drogheda and Bohemians before drawing in Dundalk.
After that 2-2 duel with the Lilywhites at Oriel Park, Derry boss Higgins hit out and said nobody should doubt his team’s character.
He felt too much was made of the quick-fire Easter defeats and Diallo agrees, insisting Derry’s confidence is soaring again ahead of tonight’s clash with St Pat’s.
The Englishman said: “It’s exactly what (Higgins) said. Losing two home games in-a-row is not good enough and we know that.
“But at the same time, it's not the end of the world. People were saying it was doom and gloom but it's really not.
“It's about how you bounce back and I think we've done really well in that regard. The draw at Dundalk and the three points in Cork were really good.
“We have to take that into tonight’s game and we know St Pat’s are a good team, with quality in the side. But we’ll be ready to hopefully get the three points.”
Diallo - suspended for November’s FAI Cup final win - added: “You see how tight the table is and it just shows how competitive the league is this year.
“If you go on a run, you can get yourself into the top three or you can find yourself in the bottom three with a bad run.
“But I’m hoping there are more good times to come for this team.”
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