Benny Couto ruled out for 'a couple of months' in latest Cork City injury blow

Benny Couto has become the latest addition to Cork City’s injury list, an ankle injury ruling the full-back out for a number of months.

City boss Tim Clancy confirmed the prognosis ahead of Friday’s meeting with Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).

After five successive defeats, the Rebels have taken four points from their last two games, beating Waterford on Easter Monday and drawing at Sligo Rovers last Saturday.

Clancy is already without a number of senior players, principally Ruairi Keating sidelined for the season.

Fellow striker Seáni Maguire is due back in a fortnight, with Malik Dijksteel slightly further away in his recovery.

“Benny will miss a couple of months,” said the manager after the incident at the Showgrounds which has left the Portuguese in a protective boot.

“He was unlucky that after blocking the cross, his ankle got stuck. He’s done ligaments and we don’t know the extent yet but we won’t see him before the summer break in June.” While acknowledging the unavailability of one of this season's reliables is a blow, the manager feels it presents a window for 18-year-old Matthew Kiernan to thrive.

“Benny’s been really good but this is an opportunity for Matty Kiernan,” he said of the player who emerged during the First Division title campaign.

“He was superb in the second half of last season. He’s a young lad who’s doing his Leaving Cert. It’s an important stage for him and this will give him a consistent run of games which I’m looking forward to. He’s been excellent when he’s come on during recent games.” City’s heaviest defeat of the season came against the Hoops in the rearranged fixture played at Tallaght last month. The 4-1 loss provided the staff and players with plenty to digest ahead of this rematch. They then travel to leaders Drogheda United on Monday.

“We were probably too brave in how we pressed and were too open,” Clancy admitted.

“Since that, we’ve had positive performances. If we’d held on to win against Sligo, we’d have been seven points off the top.

“There’s no real good time to play a team of that quality. It was a harsh lesson in the second half and we’ll have to have to be better.” Learn more