With championship looming, James McCartan says there are two or three Down starting places yet to be decided.

The Mourne County face Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster SFC in less than six weeks' time but McCartan insists there's still time for fringe players to push their way into the starting XV:

"You would have a fair idea of your first twelve or 13 players are and then you're hoping that someone is going to surprise you and make a breakthrough, through club matches or at in-house matches," he says in The Irish News.

"I suppose most intercounty managers would be able to tell you ten, eleven, twelve of their starting XV at this stage - I'd say you could tell me ten, eleven, twelve of the starting XV at this stage."

One man who could be in line for a return is midfielder Kalum King, who withdrew due to work commitments.

"He's been a huge player for us since I've been here," McCartan says. "He's been a big asset and a big character in the dressing room and we're sorry to lose him at the minute.

"We're hoping that his circumstances may change over the next few weeks, but work takes precedence - you have to earn a living." Tweet

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