Brian McManus makes switch to Shels from Preston

Shelbourne have completed the signing of 18-year-old Brian McManus following a spell with Preston North End.

McManus, who can play both in midfield and at full-back, played his schoolboy football at St. Kevin’s Boys before joining Preston.

With midfielders like Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan and Denzel Fernandes already with the Reds, McManus knows that he’ll have to work hard to tie down a place in Ian Morris’ midfield.

“The midfield is already really strong at Tolka Park,” McManus told shelbournefc.ie.

“We want to get as high as we can in the league. It’s a good squad, a very young squad too. I aim to work hard and try to make some appearances.”

Seeing youth getting a chance at Tolka Park in recent times has also given McManus hope that he can make it into the Reds’ starting XI in the near future.

“You see it with the likes of Shane Farrell breaking in last year so it’s great to see the youth coming through.”

Shels boss Ian Morris has used McManus in some of the pre-restart friendlies and Morris has admitted that the youngster has fitted well into his squad.

“He has slotted straight into the squad and settled really well,” Morris told shelbournefc.ie.

“Brian is a fantastic addition to our squad. He has a big engine and an excellent range of passing,” he added.



McManus will be hopeful that he can continue to impress in order to earn a place in the Reds squad for Reds’ first Premier Division game back since Covid-19 brought the season to a halt in March, when Waterford travel to Tolka Park on 1 August.

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