Mickey Harte has admitted that Aidan Cassidy is almost certain to miss Tyrone's Ulster SFC opener against Donegal on Sunday week.

The midfielder was forced to retire with an ankle injury in the closing stages of last month's Allianz Football League final defeat to Dublin, and hasn't trained since.

"Aidan Cassidy is the worst of all and he hasn't trained fully with the team yet, so he is top of the list," Harte said in the Irish Examiner.

There is better news concerning captain Stephen O'Neill, who has resumed full training since a freak ankle injury in the warm-up ruled him out of the league final, while Dermot Carlin, Justin McMahon and Cathal McCarron are all expected to be fit to face the All-Ireland champions.

"Stevie is back training on Tuesday night, back with the full squad, which is great," the manager continued.

"It's a mixed bag. PJ Quinn has been out with a back injury since that last game. Dermot Carlin has an Achilles injury which has kept him out, but he trained a good part of last night. Justin McMahon has been off and on with the usual niggles, but trained last night as well.

"Cathal McCarron hasn't trained since he got a dead leg at the weekend, but I think it will not keep him out after this week. Apart from that, you have hamstring niggles, and things like that, but nothing serious that would count anybody else out." Tweet

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