KARL LACEY WILL not line out for Donegal until the later games of the Allianz League.
Donegal manager Rory Gallagher is keen for the Four Masters man, a four-time All-Star winner and former Footballer of the Year, to be primed for the Ulster Championship in June.
“We decided that we’ll let Karl take an extended break,” Gallagher said.
“Karl is training away and it’s just a matter of pressing the button.”
After wining the 2012 Footballer of the Year award, Lacey underwent hip surgery that December and his first game of 2013 wasn’t until the Championship opener against Tyrone.
In the summer of 2013, Lacey had corrective surgery on knee injury and last summer he missed the All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway after injuring knee ligaments in the Ulster final against Monaghan.
This year, Gallagher wants Lacey right for his assault on the Championship and has taken a similar approach with veteran forward Colm McFadden, who is unlikely to feature until March.
Gallagher said: “We timed Colm last year and we felt that it was beneficial. We’ll work to that again this year.
“We won’t rush it and we’ll see how they progress They’ve integrated back into the ball work and we’ll take it week-by-week.”
David Walsh will have a toe injury repaired this week and it will be after the break before he returns to action, while the likes of Darach O’Connor, Michael Boyle and Rory Carr are on the long-term injury list.
Rory Kavanagh, who has done a u-turn on his decision to retire, could feature in Newry on Saturday night, when Donegal open their Allianz League campaign against Down.
So, too, could Christy Toye with Gallagher keeping a close watch on their progress this week in training.
Mark McHugh can also be expected to return to playing duties in the coming weeks, although the Kilcar man isn’t in line for selection this weekend.
