Michael Langan still ruled out as Tyrone roll into town

Michael Langan will not return to action for Donegal on Saturday when All-Ireland champions Tyrone visit Sean MacCumhaill Park in the next round of the Allianz League (throw-in 7.30pm).

Langan did not travel to Killarney for Sunday’s defeat to Kerry and this weekend’s derby will come too soon for the St Michael’s man, an All-Star nominee in 2021.

Donegal are down several big names, not least captain Michael Murphy who will also remain absent.

A hand injury appears to have ended Caolan McGonagle’s League campaign while Jamie Brennan is also a few weeks away from fitness.

Tony McClenaghan has joined the injury list, the Moville man also missing the weekend’s game in Kerry.

Donegal manager Declan Bonner has reported that veteran full-back Neil McGee is ‘getting closer’. Bonner confirmed that he hopes to have some game time under the Gaoth Dobhair man’s belt before the end of the League.

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“There’ll be no major changes for this weekend - the guys who were out are out,” Bonner told Donegal Live.

“We have what we have, but the next week or two will make a difference, hopefully. We have a week’s break after the Tyrone game. Hopefully come the Monaghan game we’ll have one or two back.

“At the same time, we’ll be taking no undue risk. Although we have a number of big games coming, April 24 and the Armagh game in the Ulster Championship is what we have in mind. That date is etched in our minds and it’s a case of making sure that the guys are back for that.

“Thankfully, they’re all making progress.”

Tyrone, the Sam Maguire holders, will welcome Kieran McGeary, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan and Peter Harte back from suspension. The quartet were all sent off in the recent game against Armagh.

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Donegal have not lost a League game in Ballybofey since a 2010 defeat to Down.

“This will be a serious challenge,” Bonner said. “It will be important that they have the support.

“Tyrone will have a big crowd with them. This is just across the road for them.

“The game is in our park and we want to make sure that it’s difficult for Tyrone. We have a lot of young lads coming in and it would be great for them to hear a big roar on Saturday night.

“It’s a north west derby between two of the biggest rivals in Gaelic football. We want a performance and we need the support to get behind us to give us a push. There will be stages in the game where we’ll need that.”

Donegal lost 1-13 to 0-7 against Kerry on Sunday and Bonner admits that his team has to be better this weekend.

“We need a result and we need a performance,” the Donegal boss said. “Bit by bit, we feel that it is coming. It’s getting the consistency now with the changeover. We have used 28 players so far and we got game time into another five lads on Sunday.

“We felt that we were reasonable in the first 20 minutes with an absolute the gale blowing straight down the pitch. We found it difficult to get the attacking element going. We were far too lateral. Kerry put the pressure on and we should’ve been better. We need to be braver in possession.”