TODAY MARKED THE first day of pre-season training for many League of Ireland clubs around the country.
The Shamrock Rovers squad blew off the cobwebs with a session at the AUL and there were new faces in the shape of recent signings Gary Shaw and Dean Clarke while Killian Brennan has returned for a second spell with the Hoops.
Damien Duff may have recently retired but a former international team-mate of his did take part.
Former Sunderland forward Stephen Elliott, who is capped nine times for Ireland, is hoping to regain his fitness with the Hoops as he has been out of action for over a year.
The 32-year-old free agent ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Carlisle United back in October 2014 and underwent surgery but hasn’t played since.
Having signed for Manchester City from Stella Maris as a youngster, Elliott made a couple of first team appearances before joining Mick McCarthy’s Sunderland in 2004.
The Dubliner spent three years with the Black Cats and went on to have stints with Preston North End, Norwich, Hearts and Coventry City.
