Jason Ryan believes that counties not having their college players available to them next month is a far from ideal situation for managers.

Embarking on his second season after taking over from Kieran McGeeney, Ryan will lead out his Kildare side on Sunday against Louth in the O'Byrne Cup minus the services of a number of students he would like to blend into his team ahead of the start of the National Football League.

"I love the O'Byrne Cup and all these pre-League competitions. I think they're terrific. As a manager, it's great having these games that are organised and structured rather than friendly games. I'm all for them," Ryan said in today's Irish Independent.

"The part I kind of struggle with is that we're preparing for the National League, but we're preparing for the National League without Tommy Moolick, Niall Kelly, Paul Cribbin, Niall Kelly, Fergal Conway, David Hyland, who are all playing with Universities.

"That's not ideal. For Kildare, our start to the League is very important. Division 2 is difficult. The last time Kildare were in Division 2, it took them four years to get out of it.

"From Kildare's point of view, we need results straight away if we're to have any possibility of being promoted. Not having those players during the month of January for games, it's not ideal.

"But it's the same for everybody else. It's not as if it's a big problem for Kildare and for nobody else. It's a big challenge for everybody."

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