Lowry looking forward

COLERAINE midfielder Stephen Lowry insists he is looking forward to the new campaign after signing a one-year contract extension…

The Limavady man has pledged his future to the club for the next 12 months as he bids to add to his 340 appearances for the club.

Lowry admits the recent arrivals at The Showgrounds has given everyone reasons to be optimistic as they aim to recover from last season’s disappointment.

“Of course I’m delighted to stay,” he said.

“We have made some good signings this summer and Coleraine is the only club I want to play for.

“I understand with my age and everything else that I’ll only be offered one-year contracts but I’m looking forward to the new campaign.

“Everyone was disappointed with how last season went; we started well but had a wobble and that’s probably the first one I’ve experienced in my second spell.

“These things can test you but it probably gave us a bit of a reality check and it wasn’t down to one thing or anything like that.

“We still believe in ourselves and we will go into the new season with a point to prove.”

The 35-year-old will miss the Stripes’ pre-season preparations after a routine knee operation last month.

However, he plans to return by September time at the latest to give Oran Kearney another option in the middle of the park.

“I had a small problem with my knee and I played through it towards the end of last season,” he added.

“To be honest, I didn’t know the full extent of the injury but the club were brilliant in getting me a scan and I was told it would only be resolved through a minor operation.

“It was probably the best time to get it done and I’m healing well.

“I hope to be back early September but I don’t want to rush things either.”