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Noel King. Bryan Keane/INPHO

No injury doubts for Shels as King optimistic ahead of Champions League clash

The Women’s National League champions are in Slovenia, where they face ZNK Pomurje tomorrow.

SHELBOURNE MANAGER NOEL King has a full deck to choose from, with no injury concerns to report ahead of their Uefa Women’s Champions League Round One semi-final tomorrow.

Shels face Slovenian side ZNK Pomurje at the Fazanerija Stadium in Murska Sobota [4.30pm Irish time, live stream on nzs.si], with temperatures of up to 35 degrees forecast for kick-off.

“No doubts. The big doubt is selection,” King said in a Shelbourne in-house video from the team’s base in Radenci this afternoon.

“A few people have little knocks but nobody’s going to be stopped from playing in this, everybody wants to be part of it. They have been so far, very co-operative. There’s a great spirit amongst the group, it’s trying to maintain that spirit on the pitch in difficult circumstances and against a team who are accustomed to qualifying every year. It’s a challenge in itself.”

A tough task lies ahead for the Tolka Park outfit, the only Irish side to qualify for the competition as 2021 Women’s National League champions.

Pomurje have reached the knockout stages twice in the past seven years, while only two Irish sides have ever done so: Peamount United in 2011 and Raheny United — who amalgamated as Shelbourne — in 2014, with Wexford Youths the only other club to fly the flag in the competition since the inception of the WNL 11 years ago.

A win over Pomurje would see Shels do battle for a last-32 berth against either Valur (Iceland) or FC Hayasa (Armenia) in Sunday’s Round One final.

King is feeling optimistic, his side settled in and ready for action after an up-and-down few weeks domestically.

“It’s going well. Long, long journey, over 12 hours coming out yesterday makes it very difficult to get going again but the girls have had their food, they’re resting now and they’re trying to recuperate as quickly as they possibly can.

“Later on this evening, we’ll have a training session, something mild. We’ll talk about the game tonight and there’ll be nothing else in our mind other than the match and how we can progress into the final.”

“They have good points, they have strengths, they have some good individual players, but they also have weaknesses,” he added on tomorrow’s opposition. “I think we’ll be competitive. If we can survive the heat thing, we’ll be very competitive I hope.”

The former Republic of Ireland women and U21 men manager says the presence of travelling Reds fans is “a boost” as they gear up to represent their country on the big stage.

“You know when you’re out there playing and you see groups, the Irish flags, the Shelbourne flag, that definitely gives players a boost and encourages them to keep going in what will definitely be difficult circumstances and difficult opponents.

“Hopefully we can stretch them, and hopefully we can go and win the game. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a long time since I had my first European campaign, let me tell you, but that’s for another day!”

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    Mute prop joe
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    Jan 29th 2016, 9:14 PM

    There must be something wrong with the gear I bought. I haven’t gone running once in the last month. It’s the clothes fault.

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    Mute John Dixon
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    Jan 29th 2016, 7:01 PM

    I have 3 pieces of their running clothing and 1 piece of their cycling gear (not shorts) and they are a good as the Karrimor gear I picked up on Sports Direct.

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    Mute Lad
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    Jan 29th 2016, 11:01 PM

    The only running gear you need is runners, shorts and a T-shirt.. Everything else is just companies convincing people they need something. By spending more money you will not get fitter easier or faster.

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    Mute Tiarnan Guinée
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    Jan 29th 2016, 11:50 PM

    Forgetting the beater man.

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    Mute Beano
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    Jan 29th 2016, 7:45 PM

    This article was brought to you by Aldi

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    Mute Alan b
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    Jan 29th 2016, 7:51 PM

    How’d you figure that out dandy?

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    Mute Rob O'H
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    Jan 29th 2016, 6:55 PM

    If only there was a premium Irish sports shop chain that could fill the clear and obvious gaps in Aldi’s sports clothing range…

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    Mute Kevin Prendergast
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    Jan 29th 2016, 8:34 PM

    Not in like a good oul pair of aldidas runner’s

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    Mute Dave McCarrick
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    Jan 29th 2016, 11:36 PM

    I always get the Aldi Fluorescent cycling rain jackets when there out. Great value at €28 odd. The exact same branded would be 70+

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