Hill gives Carey Terras chance
By Paul Baker

Wednesday 13th July 2005

GARRY Hill is set to open talks with Shaun Carey about a permanent move to the Wessex Stadium.

The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international is on trial with the Terras after missing most of last season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Carey, who played under Hill at Hornchurch, is expected to get his first run out for more than six months when Weymouth take on Shamrock Rovers in Dublin tonight.

Hill explained: "Shaun has been training really hard and if he feels up to it and conditions are right, he'll come on for the last 20 minutes against Shamrock. But if there's any doubts about his fitness, I obviously won't risk him.

"First thing I'll do is look at the pitch when we get there. The last thing the lad needs after a cruciate ligament injury is to play his first game back on a hard and bumpy surface so we'll just have to wait and see.

"There's no hurry with Shaun. He's a quality player who has got nothing to prove to me, and someone I'm very keen to bring to Weymouth.

"When we return from Ireland I'll sit down and talk to him about the future and hopefully we can finalise a deal."

After going down 4-0 at Ericom League high-fliers Drogheda United on Monday, Hill is hoping his players can end their pre-season tour of Ireland with a victory this evening.

But whatever the result, the manager is hailing the trip as a `massive success'.

He added: "I thought we did okay against Drogheda considering they are in the middle of their season and that was our first game of the summer. It would be nice to bounce back with a win tonight but again, the performance will be most important.

"Coming over here was about team bonding and giving everyone a run-out and from that viewpoint it's been a massive success. All those who

didn't start on Monday will start tonight and the idea is that every player will go home with at least 90 minutes under their belts."

One man who'll be desperate to impress against Shamrock is goalkeeper Jason Matthews. Having been the Terras first choice gloveman for the past three years, he now has competition for the number one shirt from new signing Aaron Lee-Barrett.

"Both are outstanding goal-keepers," added Hill, who watched Hearts' 5-1 friendly win over Bray last night, "and they work really well together in training. I think the competition they create is great for the club and it's what I want to see in every position.

"At the moment I have an open mind in all departments and it's down to the players to go and earn their place in the side."