Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley gives update on Aaron McEneff injury scare

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has revealed that midfielder Aaron McEneff is a doubt for next week’s Europa Conference League clash away to Rapid Vienna.

McEneff walked straight off the pitch midway through the second-half of Thursday night’s 2-0 friendly defeat to HJK Helsinki at Tallaght Stadium, before Bradley could even get a substitute ready.

The Hoops boss explained afterwards why his midfielder took that course of action.

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“Right now Aaron Mac has come off there,” said Bradley.

“That was a strange one - he passed the ball and felt his hamstring tighten up. There was no contact, nothing, so that’s definitely a worry.”

McEneff has had problems with his hamstring since his return to Rovers on-loan from Perth Glory.

“It was the same hamstring, but a different area,” confirmed Bradley. “I was just talking to him there and he felt fine, no issues.

“He felt good and just one pass and he felt it really tighten up. Hopefully it’s not bad and he has just come out quickly, but you are looking at him coming off and hopefully it’s not bad.

“But you are just not sure until he gets it scanned.

“He knew as soon as he passed it. It wasn’t as if it was a sprint or just after full-time, he was growing into the game and was moving well, said he felt nothing at all and then it happened.

“Hopefully it’s just a little tweak and he’s not too bad.”

HJK’s goals came in the sixth and 69th minutes - with Kai Meriluoto and Anthony Olusanya netting for the visitors.

Meriluoto capitalised on an error by Hoops goalkeeper Leon Pohls, whose attempted clearance went straight to the Finland international. He dribbled around Pohls and scored from close range.

Olusanya doubled the visitors' lead in the 69th minute, shortly after coming off the bench. He finished neatly from a low Meriluoto cross.

For Bradley, it was a chance to give his players a run-out after they enjoyed a week off in the wake of their Europa Conference League win against The New Saints.

They meet HJK again on Friday at 12.30pm - this time behind-closed-doors - with players that didn’t feature on Thursday night set to get a run-out.

Reflecting on the time since the TNS win, Bradley said: “It was nice. We had a week off, which was needed. It was nice mentally and physically to switch off.

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“It was good to get that and then come back this week and get ready, and have two games, which is good.

“A break like that always helps, especially after a long season. It always helps. Like I said, we play obviously until late December, so it was important that the players enjoyed it and came back in good spirits.

“We have a focus and this week was just about getting them going, obviously. And obviously with the two games, it’s about getting minutes into the legs.

“We have a few knocks, six or seven that have knocks that we didn’t take chances with and we won't (on Friday) either.

“It (the team against HJK) was younger than what we probably would have liked overall, but there is no point in taking risks this week.

“We’ll just get them ready for next week and it’s three brilliant games to be getting ready for, really.”

Rovers have picked up seven points from their opening three games against APOEL (1-1), Larne (4-1) and The New Saints (2-1) to all but secure a spot in the knockouts.

Bradley wants to make sure of their place - and even upgrade it to an automatic last-16 place by picking up points in their remaining games away to Rapid Vienna, at home to Bosnian side Boruc, and away to Chelsea.

“We knew HJK were in a similar position to us, obviously. They are preparing (for next week’s game away to Panathinaikos) and we know they are a good side,” he said.

“It’s about getting the minutes into the legs. Like I said, it was hard to work on certain things, because there were so many changes with players that we couldn’t play.

“But it’s still good to get the game and just get minutes into the legs again before next week.”

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