Shelbourne captain Paddy Barrett will not feature in Friday's Shamrock Rovers clash as manager John Russell confirmed the defender is not part of his first-team plans. The 32-year-old has been omitted from the squad for the past two games, including the Conference League fixture against Ajax and the league match versus Galway United.
Russell stated that Odhran Casey, the club's record signing, is now preferred in central defence despite Barrett's experience. He acknowledged Barrett's quality but explained that Casey has shown improvement over the last couple of games after overcoming injury troubles since his arrival.
While Barrett is not currently in Russell's plans, the manager left the door open for a potential recall. He said Barrett could still feature before the end of October, noting there are plenty of games remaining and that decisions could change .
Shelbourne have recently added Austrian centre half Marco Untergrabner with the assistance of Jamestown Analytics, a company founded by Brighton owner Tony Bloom. Russell, who previously worked with Jamestown during his time at Sligo Rovers, emphasised that analytics are only one part of recruitment and stressed the importance of cultural fit and off-pitch factors like accommodation and banking.
Barrett is out of contract this winter and has not been among the players who have recently signed new deals at the club. Russell confirmed that Barrett has not agreed to a new contract despite being a long-serving captain and influential figure in the dressing room.
Shelbourne will look to secure a victory against Shamrock Rovers on Friday to close the gap on the top four of the League of Ireland Premier Division, with Barrett watching from the sidelines as Russell continues to back Odhran Casey in defence. Check our fixtures for the full schedule of upcoming matches.
