Eoghan looks to Stoke a Cork City revival

NEW Cork City signing Eoghan Stokes is keen to help the club turn around their fortunes, beginning with tomorrow night’s trip to take on Waterford.

The Rebel Army are level on 27 points with their Munster rivals, but Waterford’s superior goal difference has them in seventh place while the Blues also have a game in hand.

Having helped City to overcome Cabinteely in the FAI Cup last weekend, Kildare native Stokes now wants to effect some upward mobility in the Premier Division.

“Every game’s a big game, especially where we are in the league,” he says.

“Hopefully we can put a good stretch of wins towards the end of the season. Things can change big-time after the break, you can go on a winning streak and have a run in the FAI Cup and people will turn around and say it wasn’t that bad a season.

“That’s what we’re looking to do.”

Having spent last season with Bohemians, Stokes joined Derry City at the beginning of the current campaign but was open to a move south once the prospect materialised.

“I was on holidays in France and I got a phone call from Cotts saying he was interested in bringing me down here,” he says.

“When I heard about it, I was pretty interested. It took a while to get it done but I was glad we got it done in the end.

“He said that they needed goals and felt I could contribute. He had seen me playing and thought I could bring a few into the team.

“I want to play off another centre-forward, maybe play a bit deeper. I can play in the 10 as well and create things and score goals, obviously, which I hope I can do down here. It might swing things differently between now and the end of the season.”

While it has been a trying season for City, Stokes doesn’t necessarily feel there is a confidence problem.

“No, not at all,” he says.

“I think that’s all it is, you just want to see the ball hitting the back of the net once or twice and that’s it, it goes from there.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a confidence, we’re getting into the positions and it’s just about taking the chances.

“Things swing big-time in this league from one end of the week to the other.”

It’s a league he’s still adapting to in ways, having returned home following six years at Leeds United in 2018.

“It’s a good level,” he says.

“I’m back now a year and a half and I have enjoyed it. It’s what I wanted, playing men’s football and it is tough to acclimatise to it, it’s a lot different to playing U23s in England.

“I’m learning at the same time, I was 21 when I came back and learning from more experienced players can only benefit me.”