Former Kildare legend Dermot Earley believes that Cian O'Neill has the right ingredients at his disposal for the Lilywhites to make an immediate return to Division Two.

O'Neill oversaw his first league game as Kildare manager last Sunday when his side scored a 2-9 to 0-11 win over fellow promotion favourites Westmeath in Mullingar and Earley feels the team are promotion bound even if they are to hit a bump in the road over the coming weeks.

"They had a good start last week (beating Westmeath) but I wouldn't be looking at seven wins on the trot," Earley told RTE Sport.

"I expect them to beat Offaly this weekend but after that we have away games against the likes of Longford and Tipperary and that won't be easy.

"Real competition will improve all the teams and therefore it might be difficult to win every game. All Kildare need to do is to ensure they finish in the top two. They may have a bad result along the way, but they should be consistent enough to be in the top two.

"In reality you have to say that Kildare are currently playing in a division beneath them. In Kevin Feely, Daniel Flynn and Eoin Doyle, there is talent coming through. We have a spine of good players. It's just trying to find the right blend and right balance to get the right team."

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