Former Donegal defender Eamon McGee reckons that Jim McGuinness will sound out retired players for a return to the Tir Chonaill County set-up next season.

McGuinness made a sensational return to the Donegal hotseat on Monday night - nine years after stepping away from the team - and many are intrigued to see if the Glenties man will try and persuade former captain Michael Murphy to return to the squad.

Speaking on Highland Radio this week after confirmation of McGuinness’s return, McGee said he expects the 2012 All-Ireland winning boss to bring back some ex-players but doesn’t see the retired Murphy being one of them.

"He will," said McGee when asked if he thinks McGuinness will persuade some former Donegal stars to come out of retirement.

"He'll look around and obviously the big one is will he look at Michael Murphy? You'd imagine he probably has had conversations and sounded him out."

He continued: "No, no, I don't (think Murphy will return). That's just my own opinion on it. I think Michael has given his time, he's done his service so we need to start going in other directions and looking for other leaders now.

"And lads will step up. Michael has trailed the path for them on what to do and how to do it, so the lads will step up. I think we need to put it to bed fairly early.

"Michael is probably not going to come back playing. It's up to him. It's a conversation that Jim and him will have to have.”

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