Kevin Doherty: English can be the difference for us this season

Shelbourne manager Kevin Doherty says forward James English could be the galvanising goal-scorer required to propel his side toward a play-off position in 2016.

English signed for the Reds last season and has been in fine form during pre-season, scoring a total five goals against Leixlip United, Bray Wanderers, St. Patrick’s Athletic as well as a double against Bohemians in the build up to this week’s league opener against Stephen Henderson’s Ramblers.

“I hope he continues to progress”, Doherty told Extratime.ie at last week’s launch of the 2016 SSE Airtricity League season.

“This has been his first ever proper pre-season and you can see the improvement in him. He has scored a couple of goals in pre-season which is always good for the confidence so I’m hoping he gets a few more goals this year.”

His side endured a disappointing 2015 where mixed results against First Division champions Wexford Youths and promoted Finn Harps in the season’s final stretch meant Shelbourne had to settle for a fourth place finish, four points behind UCD in the second play-off place.

The former Reds under-19 boss turned first team manager reflected on a mixed first year in senior management, noting the added incentive that winning on the touchline brings.

“It was tough and it was completely new, but I really enjoyed it.

“Obviously you don’t enjoy the experience when you lose but there is something special about when you win. I don’t know why but it is different when you’re a manager, you feel it more than when you were a player.

“And having the support of the Shelbourne fans was massive for me coming into the job. They were always there, even at the end of the season they were brilliant and I’m hoping that this season we can achieve something for them.”

His side lacked the haul of goals which saw Shane Keegan’s Wexford Youth average more than two goals per game in their 20 wins, reflecting the presence that a top goal-scorer can bring to a First Division promotion push.

It's something he hopes the in-form striker English can bring over the course of this season as his side prepare another push for a top three finish.

“Goals is something we were maybe lacking last year. Wexford Youths won the league with Danny Furlong scoring 30 goals.

“So you do tend to need a goal-scorer like Philly Gorman at Athlone Town or Philly Hughes the last time Shelbourne went up. It’s definitely something I’m hoping James can step up to.”

Adding that pre-season preparations had gone to plan up to this point, he noted that last season his side may have lacked the experience brought in by new recruits Aidan Collins and Robert O’Reilly.

“Pre-season has gone well and we are looking forward to getting started at this stage. I feel we weren’t quite ready last year due to the fact that we have a very young side.

“We’ve brought a lot of experience in with Aidan Collins who was very good in the First Division last year – in my opinion one of the best centre backs in the league – so that bit of experience will add to the youth and talent of the other lads which will hopefully make the difference this season.”