Marty McCann believes Derry City players can compete with best in the league

The Galliagh man, who was assistant manager in 2015, has been impressed by the application from the players in pre-season and hopes all the hard work will pay off when they get down to the ‘nitty gritty’ against the league champions.

Derry were one of the fittest teams in the league last season and after the hard yards completed in pre-season, McCann expects the team to raise the bar this year.

“Everybody has impressed but you don’t really know until it comes down to the nitty gritty,” he said. “The environment is great and the players have pushed each other on which bodes well for the team spirit but the proof is in the pudding and we’ll find out very shortly, come Friday night.

“It’s okay when you’re winning 2-0 or 3-0, it’s when you’re in the 95th minute and the game is still in the balance - who’s prepared to do that unselfish work, whether it’s to keep the ball out of the net or to make a run into the box to put the ball in the net? That’s when the real players, really come to the party, when it’s nip and tuck.

“Last year we were quite good at that - that never-say-die attitude and that will to win was far greater than the fear of failure. Hopefully we’ve instilled that mindset this year and our technical ability, game understanding and intelligence will then come to fruition.”

The Candy Stripes will certainly need to dig deep against a Dundalk side they finished 29 points behind in 2019 and bearing in mind they haven’t won at Oriel Park in their last 13 attempts.

Former Derry, Cliftonville and Ards midfielder, McCann takes a hands-on approach on the training ground and has been particularly impressed with the Candy Stripes’ new-look midfield.

However, while there are plenty of options and they’re are all technically gifted, whoever is selected will have their work cut out against Chris Shields and ex-City vice skipper, Greg Sloggett.

“They are all very technical players,” he said. “They are very easy on the eye and there’s good rotation between the three of them, whether one sits in place and two push on or if it’s two in the base.

“In the bullring you have to win your battles and then the technical quality usually comes out in the final stages of the game.

“So if we can blend both then it’s an interesting combination of players, whoever plays. There’s plenty of competition and when they get in and claim a jersey they will have to work hard to keep it - that’s all we want - good healthy competition.”

Regardless of who plays, it has to be a team effort if Derry are to improve on their fourth place finish of last season

“Playing nowadays you have to have a lot of strings to your bow in possession, out of possession whereas years ago people were either good going forward or good in defence. You need to be good at most things nowadays. Thankfully, they have shown me lots of qualities and I have a lot of belief in them. They can grow and compete with the best players in the league.”