Fighting Fitz!

United manager Tommy Wright looks set to say same again to the team that snatched a draw from the jaws of victory last week. Mark Picking, Paul Brown and Boydie all returned to training this week and Fitzy has completed his one match suspension. Fitzy will definitely return to the squad, but is not expected to get a starting role, even though on-loan striker Davitt Walsh sat out training with a heavy cold. Johnny Flynn, fresh from a three day trial at Man City, will take his place in central defence alongside United Captain Albert Watson. Albert, who has already made 190 appearances for the Sky Blues, will be out of contract in the summer, but United manager Tommy Wright has assured 'Sport that he'll be offering the Whitehead man a new deal before the transfer window opens. He also has told 'Sport that young Johnny Flynn won't be going on any more trials and any interested parties will have to judge him on his performances for the Sky Blues, although he reiterated his stance that United wouldn't stand in the way of any protracted transfer to full time football. United's record at New Grovesnor has been none to impressive over the last few seasons and tomorrow would be a good time to set things back on an even keel. A victory tomorrow would also vault United above the hosts into fifth place and set us up nicely for the County Antrim derby at home to Larne next Friday night. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those Lisburners!

Walking Wounded!

United go into tomorrow's crucial game against Dungannon Swifts, with a catalogue of injuries piling up. Definitely out of the reckoning for tomorrow's game are, Stuart King, Mark Picking and Aiden Watson, all carrying injuries, while Fitzy must sit out with an automatic one match ban after his sending off for an alleged elbowing offence in the reserve game last Saturday. Meanwhile Simon Kelly is extremely doubtful as is Gavin Melaugh. Young Johnny Flynn has just returned from his week's trial with English Premier league side, Blackburn Rovers and may step in for Kelly, but will there be a place for veteran Nigel Boyd, when there's a dearth of naturally left-sided players, to replace the injured Gavin Melaugh in centre midfield. The United manager has another couple of options at his disposal, with Randal Reid, Lee Patrick and Stephen McNeil all vying for a start. There's also the forgotten man at the Showgrounds, former Swift's player Thomas Wray, who has been conspicuous by his absence in recent weeks. No matter what United line-up takes the field tomorrow, we at 'Sport just hope they're up for a battle as both teams are striving for the points. But there can only be one winner and United need to make sure it's them, So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those dunners!

Ballymena Boy!

The Ballymena Boy is the title of a book by United legend Norman Clarke, but we're sure Norman will forgive us for using it as our title for tonight's headline. This time we are referring to another Ballymena Boy, current Norn Iron manager Nigel Worthington. Nigel and Norman have many things in common, both born in the old town, both with the same initial for their forename, both left-footed and both United heroes. Nigel has a chance to write his name in the record books again tomorrow night, when Norn Iron play Spain in Las Palmas, a victory for the men in green could see our wee team advance to the European finals for the first time in their history. But no matter what happens history has already been made, for David Healy (or God as he is known to Norn Iron fans), has broken the individual scoring record for European qualifying. Fans of the International side will be hoping that David can summon up even more magic tomorrow night and that Sweden lose to Latvia and Norn Iron qualify for the European finals this summer in Austria/ Switzerland. If we don't we'll still have achieved a minor miracle by finishing in third place and hopefully our Nige will get an extension to his contract which is what the man deserves to say the least. So come on Norn Iron, let's shag those Spaniards, like good Ballymena Boys!

Flying Flynn!

As their are no league games this week, yet another 'balls up' by the I.F.A. we thought we'd give a bit of an update. The good news is that teenage prospect Johnny Flynn has gone for a trial with English Premier side Blackburn Rovers and United manager Tommy Wright is hopeful that the young United star will make the grade at the Premier club, managed by former Wales boss, Mark Hughes. Young Flynn has come on leaps and bounds since his promotion to the United first team and we at 'Sport wish him all the best. Meanwhile the forgotten man at the Showgrounds, injured striker Paul Brown is recovering slowly from his broken arm and should return to training in another two weeks time. It's also hoped that Mark Picking will be available for selection when we entertain Dungannon Swifts in ten days time, we badly missed his attacking prowess last week and can ill afford another weak performance when the Tyrone men visit. That's about all the news for now as we prepare for Norn Iron's triumphs over the next 8 days, first we'll Shag the Vikings and then we'll Reign in Spain (well Gran Canaria actually), so come on you Green Giants!

Hubble Bubble!

United with two wins under their belt, face the team, who on paper should be mere cannon fodder, but who in the past have turned them over and tomorrow they must guard against their old enemy, complacency. Hubble bubble, toil and trouble, that's what Limavady United generally give the Sky Blues, and we at 'Sport expect a similar scenario, tomorrow. United should go into this game with only one change to last weeks starting line-up, former Limavady player Stephen Lowry, who opened his United goal-scoring account last week, is expected to get the nod in place of the injured Mark Picking. The United manager has intimated that Simon Kelly, will continue alongside Albert Watson at central defence, as Johnny Flynn needs the break after playing 3 games for Norn Iron, under-21s in Cyprus. Gary Haveron will continue in left midfield, in spite of the fact that he looks like a 'fish out of water', but it shows his versatility that he continues to perform in an unfamiliar position, although we at 'Sport, like most United fans, believe it to be a more natural position for veteran Nigel Boyd. Manager Tommy Wright obviously thinks different and he after all is the man who decides who plays and who doesn't, we can only hope he's got it right. So come on Sky Blues, let's get on with the job, let's shag those Roesiders!

Blue Dawn!

After last week's win at home to Portadown, United fans are hoping that it was not a 'false dawn' as they make the trip to the 'dead' centre of Armagh to play the local side. The teams news from the Showgrounds is, that despite a few niggles, only one change is necessary to the United panel and that sees the return of under-23 International Aaron Callaghan who proved his fitness in the reserves last Saturday. We at 'Sport, expect Callaghan to return at rightback, releasing Simon Kelly to partner Albert Watson in central defence, as Johnny Flynn is with the Norn Iron under-21's in Cyprus. The only other place up for grabs in the United panel, is the one vacated by David Cushley, who is also on under-21 duty. United Manager, Tommy Wright, hinted that he might promote young Paul McNeill, who scored a hat-trick in the Reserves 6 nil win over Portadown reserves last Saturday. The United manager wouldn't be drawn on whether he would stick with the adventurous 4,4,2, formation he used so successfully last week, or if he would revert back to the 4,1,4,1, formation that so nearly brought a result at Windsor Park two weeks ago. The 'gut' feeling amongst the Sky Blue Sport team is that he will stick with last weeks formation, allowing the partnership of Kelbie and Walsh (or is it Bonnie and Clyde), to develop further. United's two 'shootists' appear to be on the way to becoming a decent partnership, but it's going to take time in order for them to develop a proper understanding. So come on United, let's build on last weeks result, let's shag those apple pickers!