Shiels aiming to avoid surprise exit at Knockbreda

DEAN Shiels does not want Dungannon Swifts to be on the wrong end of a shock when the Irish Cup gets underway this weekend.

They open their quest for the trophy at Championship side Knockbreda.

It appears a high-risk tie for the struggling Swifts – away from home, against a side with nothing to lose.

Dungannon already have painful experience of the unpredictable nature of cup football – in November their League Cup hopes were ended by second division Limavady United.

However, Shiels sees an Irish Cup run as a chance to lift morale at Stangmore Park.

It is badly needed after a 6-1 defeat to Linfield last time out, albeit the Swifts were weakened by Covid issues, injuries and suspensions.

Shiels is hopeful of having a stronger panel for the trip to Breda Park, but expects a genuine test.

“Any tie against a team like Knockbreda is going to be difficult,” he said.

“Going there, they will be well up for it, and we have to match that, but I expect a massive response from Saturday. If we can get new signings in, they will play. If we can get the suspensions back, they can play – the Covid ones, I am not so sure about.

“We will see on Saturday where we are at.”

Dungannon reached the Irish Cup final in 2007, losing on penalties to Linfield. They also reached the semi-finals in 2017, and quarter-finals in 2019.

Shiels added: “It is the Irish Cup and if that is not a motivation for our players then I don’t know what is.

“It’s a chance to go deep in the competition, and that starts with beating Knockbreda.”

Saturday’s opponents are ninth in the Championship, and have not won any of their last six games – their last victory was at Loughgall on November 13.

Shiels has already confirmed he expects to make signings this month. He wants to bolster his defence, which has conceded the most goals in the division – 56 in 20 games.

He also revealed that Dylan King is making progress in his return from long-term injury.

The defender (23), who joined from Coleraine in 2019, has not played since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December 2020.

“Dylan was waiting on the green light from a specialist in Dublin, and it was delayed due to Covid,” he explained.

“He is back training with us – again, it’s an area that we are light in and the sooner Dylan is back, the better – it will be a boost for us, but he’s not close to being back in the immediate future.”

Dungannon were hit by Covid problems ahead of last weekend’s defeat to Linfield, with six players and a staff member out.