New Rovers striker Carr buzzing for Dublin Derby debut

New Shamrock Rovers striker Daniel Carr cannot wait for the chance to make his competitive debut for the Hoops in Friday’s Dublin derby at Dalymount Park against Bohs.

Ahead of the kick off to the new league campaign this week, Rovers confirmed on Monday the signing of the 24-year-old player who has been with the Hoops for most of pre-season. He was handed the number nine jersey at the club’s season launch on Saturday (see here).

“I've heard about the Bohs and Rovers rivalry and it's going to be fun to play in it,” said Carr. “Hopefully I can add my two pence in there and the team can come away victorious. I'm buzzing for it on Friday.”

Carr earned his contract for 2018 after a strong performance in pre-season including at the Atlantic Cup in the Algarve where Rovers drew all three games against Swedish opposition.

"In Portugal I had the mindset to keep going and earn that deal and thankfully I did that,” said Carr whose last playing stint was in Sweden with Karlstad BK having played previously with Huddersfield and Cambridge amongst others.

“It was against really good opposition (in the Atlantic Cup). Dalkurd, Hammarby and Norrkoping (are) highly rated teams in Sweden. So it was good to get a run out and I thought the team did very well out there as well.

“This is a new chapter in my career. Now is the time to move on and look to the future, hopefully score goals and do well for Rovers. As a striker that's what I'm here to do."

Along with Carr, Stephen Bradley’s striking options include Gary Shaw and Sean Boyd but not Michael O’Connor who has gone out on loan to Finn Harps (see here).

Shaw has recovered remarkably quickly from a nasty upper arm break in Rovers’ penultimate game of last season, a break that required a near six hour surgery to put right.

Boyd meanwhile has shown some form in pre-season scoring a cracker in the Atlantic Cup Third/Fourth Place play off (see here).

Bradley said about Carr that “we've really liked what he's brought to the group, both on and off the pitch. I think he's different to what we have in the attacking part of the field, he brings different attributes and sees the game differently to our other attacking players.

“Physically Dan and Gary Shaw look very similar in terms of size and they both have good pace. But Dan's unpredictability around the box is something that will catch a lot of people out this year.

“I thought against Hammarby he was excellent, his hold up play, link up play and clever movement down the side. He has really good feet in tight areas.

“He was excellent in Portugal but in terms of ability I probably had made my mind up after the first day I'd seen him. Keeping him with the group and bringing him away was more just about what type of character he was and how he fitted in.

“He's really ambitious to show people how good he is. I think Dan will score goals."

2018 Season Preview - Shamrock Rovers https://t.co/2W6QoohAYEpic.twitter.com/qbT9lopUKp

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) February 12, 2018