Dublin need to "Hit the ground running & solidify that midfield partnership" if they are to contend for the All Ireland Championship this summer, according to former Dublin star Diarmuid Connolly.
Speaking about Dublin's league form, Connolly said, "We all know Dublin had a poor league and were relegated into Division Two. They only had two wins with one of those coming in the last game of the season.
“This fixture last year was a very close one I thought. Wexford set out their stall very defensively and I can see something similar happening in this round of the Championship. Dublin need to hit the ground running and they need to solidify that midfield partnership and the half back line.
“Is James McCarthy going to come in and start in midfield and stay there for the season. A big question mark on a lot of people’s lips is how is the fitness with Con O’Callaghan?
Probably not looking at Wexford this coming Saturday but they will be looking later on this season. Can we get a full 15 off this Dublin squad?”
The six-time All-Ireland winner was speaking to BoyleSports in advance of Saturday’s clash and thinks Brian Howard should partner Brian Fenton in midfield against Wexford this weekend.
Connolly believes Fenton and Howard should be the midfield duo, instead of Fenton and James McCarthy.
“James McCarthy is the Rolls Royce," said Connolly.
"He has 13 or 14 seasons into his Dublin career already and he is still going strong.
“When he came back for that Tyrone game earlier in the league, he made the difference. I like him at midfield but where do you play Brian Howard then? Do you play him at wing forward, which he has been playing pretty good at?
“He has been one of the stand-out Dublin performers. I would love to see the partnership of Brian Howard and Brian Fenton. They are club-mates and have that relationship. Two of them are built for midfield.
“It remains to be seen but I would imagine all three of those players are going to start just where Dessie Farrell picks them."
Dublin will need to improve on their goalscoring output if they are to go far in this years championship. Goals were a trademark of the Dublin side that dominated season after season, but in this years league campaign, The Dubs scored only four goals in seven matches.
Diarmuid Connolly is backing Cormac Costello to get Dublin back scoring goals, “Cormac Costello always knows where the goal and he is my man to score the first goal at 11/2.”
Dublin take on Wexford on Saturday at 6:30pm at Wexford Park.
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