United boss aiming to build momentum

The Sky Blues head to Stangmore Park on Saturday (3pm) on the back of a League Cup win over Ballinamallard and a come-from-behind league draw against Coleraine in the past week.

But having taken just two points out of a possible 18 in their past six Danske Bank Premiership matches, Ferguson is well aware that his side need to start putting together a run of results to lift themselves away from the lower reaches of the table.

The manager will monitor fitness concerns over David Cushley and Michael Ruddy, who picked up knocks in Saturday’s 2-2 ‘derby’ draw with Coleraine.

“David has had a bit of a knee problem for a number of weeks, but Cush is Cush and he’ll say he’s okay to play but he did feel a slight tweak on it so we took him off as a precaution.

“Michael has had ice on his injury and he’s away limping but I know what Michael’s like and if he can play, he’ll play.

“That’s the kind of players we want at the club, players with a bit of character who play through the pain barrier.”

Ferguson will be without the services of three of his first team squad through suspension for the trip to Tyrone.

Johnny Taylor, United’s two-goal hero against Coleraine, serves a one-game ban for accumulating five yellow cards.

Striker Shane Dolan is automatically banned after his late red card against Coleraine, while midfielder Gavin Taggart is also sin-binned after being sent off for the Reserves in their defeat at Coleraine at the weekend.

Seven Towers Supporters’ Club transport to Dungannon leaves Henry Street car park at 1.30pm.