Larne handed major boost as key men step up their recovery from injury

Larne's search for a first point in the UEFA Conference League continues but they have been handed a major boost as two of their key men have stepped up their return from injury.

The Invermen produced another battling performance against Olimpija on Thursday night before Ivan Durdov's header secured the points for the Slovenian side.

It was tough on the Irish Premiership champions but their mood was lifted with the return to action for Tomas Cosgrove as the experienced defender got over 30 minutes of action under his belt at the Stadion Stožice.

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Speaking after the game assistant boss Gary Haveron revealed that Leroy Millar has also stepped up his recovery as he too closes in on a return to playing. “We had to get Tomas out there and get 20 or 25 minutes, which is maybe longer than we had planned," said Haveron.

"It’s great to have him back, he’s only done a couple of days training and truth be told he’s still got a bit to go to get back to match fitness. Having someone like Tomas back after the lay-off he’s had and Leroy Millar back on the training pitch can only bode us well. It is great having two brilliant players back for the league campaign moving forward.”

Haveron took charge of first team affairs in Slovenia as new boss Nathan Rooney watched on from the stands. The assistant boss felt his side deserved a lot more for their efforts.

"I couldn't be any prouder," Haveron said. "Everything we asked of the boys before the game to be gritty, to dig in when they had to, to keep their shape and be disciplined, I thought the boys to a man were absolutely immense.

"To be sitting in there really disappointed with the result tells you how much they invested in the game and how much they gave to the game. They probably deserved more out of it given the chances that we had.

"You have to take your moments when they come around. We knew we weren't going to get five or six chances, so when we got moments, we needed to take them. I can't criticise any of those boys in the changing room as we still created chances when down to ten men."

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