Ruaidhri Higgins reckons Michael Duffy, Patrick McEleney, Will Patching and new signing Paul McMullan can sharpen up the Derry City attack.
The Candystripes struggled to create any opportunities of note in Monday night’s 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers.
Injured trio Duffy, Patching and McEleney watched from the stands, while ex-Dundee winger McMullan is waiting for the transfer window to open before he can play for his new side.
Higgins bemoaned the lack of quality deliveries into the box during the Tallaght Stadium defeat, which left Derry seven points adrift of the Hoops.
He said: “When you come to a place like this and you have control and the opposition pinned in, that’s when your Duffys, your (Will) Patchings, your McEleneys or your McMullans come to the fore.
“Up until we get to that point, our play was really encouraging in the first two-thirds of the pitch.
“But you don’t win games in the first two-thirds of the pitch, you win games in the final third. Just disappointing to come here and not get anything.”
Quizzed on when the crocked three would return, Higgins replied: “I don’t think it’s going to be too far away. But the sooner we get them back, the better.”
As for McMullan’s signing, he added: “That will be a huge boost to us, real exciting talent, brilliant lad as well. He’s the type of player that our supporters will love watching.”
