Glentoran manager Declan Devine has provided a critical injury update on star striker Pat Hoban following a damaging defeat to Linfield. The loss at Windsor Park on Saturday was compounded by the absence of last season's Premiership top scorer and six other first-team players.
Devine's comments were reported by the Belfast Newsletter this week. He confirmed Hoban tweaked his calf in the recent match against Limavady and is hopeful the issue will only sideline him for a couple of games. The manager described the team's performance in the 1-0 loss as completely unacceptable and gut wrenching, stating they let their fans down.
What is the latest on Glentoran's injured players?
The injury situation at The Oval is severe, with seven players currently unavailable. Beyond Hoban, summer signing Greg Sloggett has yet to make his debut after a setback with a knee injury. Devine expects Sloggett to return to training within the next couple of weeks.
Jarlath O'Rourke is also injured and considered a big loss, though he could be back soon. The most long-term absence is probably Liam Burt. Winger Josh Daniels injured his knee during the club's European tie against RFS in Latvia, but the club hopes he will be available next week.
In goal, Andrew Mills is out for a couple of weeks. This led to 45-year-old veteran Elliott Morris being named on the bench against Linfield for the first time since January 2022. Devine explained the decision, saying, "We have a top young goalkeeper in Jack (Watt) who I felt the game was just a bit too for in terms of his development, he's only 17 and has a brilliant future, but this is a different type of game."
How does this affect the squad for the next match?
The absentee crisis will directly impact selection for Friday's Premiership trip to face Ballymena United at The Showgrounds. Jordan Stewart, who scored in both of Glentoran's first two league matches, will be suspended after being sent off in the dying moments of the Linfield defeat.
This leaves Devine with major selection headaches across the pitch. He emphasised the need for unity, stating, "I have to keep this group really tight because there’s a lot of talent there. We’re missing seven players, which is no excuse." Fans can track the team's availability on our dedicated injuries page.
Where does Glentoran stand in the league context?
Despite the setback, Glentoran's early season form has been strong. They currently sit 2nd in the Premiership table with 6 points from three games, recording two wins and one loss. Their recent form reads WLW, and they have scored 5 goals while conceding only 2, giving them a healthy +3 goal difference.
The title race is already tight, with Glentoran just one point behind early leaders Coleraine FC. This context makes navigating the current injury spell vital for maintaining their challenge. You can follow the evolving league picture on our standings page.
What comes next for Glentoran?
The immediate focus is Friday's match against a Ballymena United side also coming off a defeat. After that, the fixture list presents another tough test with an away match against 4th-placed Crusaders FC on December 19th. Managing the squad through this period will be a test of depth for Devine.
The manager must find solutions from within his depleted group to keep pace at the top. The club's ability to handle this injury crisis could have a significant bearing on their season ambitions. Supporters can look ahead to all upcoming matches on our fixtures schedule.
