By Declan Rooney

The return of All-Star Charlie Harrison and Johnny Martyn to the Sligo squad is a huge lift to get early in the season, says manager Niall Carew.

Harrison ruptured his cruciate ligament last March and missed the rest of the season as a result, but the St John's clubman is keen to get stuck into the new season according to Carew.

Martyn is also back in the fold with the westerners after an ankle ligament problem ruled him out of Sligo's run to this year's Connacht final.

The St Mary's man was back in time to help his club to their first Sligo title since 2001, and according to Carew holding the duo back is now his only problem.

"It's massive to have the two lads back in with us,. Especially with Ross Donovan gone," said Carew. "I'll be hoping to have the two of them back 100 per cent in time for the start of the league.

"Charlie is flying it again, we're trying to ease him back into it. Like Johnny, it's hard to get them to take it easy they're so keen. We'll probably give them a run in the FBD League, but we need the two of them. They're big players for us."

Harrison, who turns 34 in the New Year, played a huge role in Sligo's 2007 Connacht title winning side, but he had earlier played inter-county football for London back in 2004.

He was captain of the side that lost narrowly to Roscommon in the provincial final in 2010, a campaign that saw him earn just a fourth All-Star award for the county.

Full-back Martyn (34), had hoped to be a major player for Sligo last summer having made a strong recovery from a stroke and heart surgery the previous year, but the ankle injury cut his comeback short.

"They are a great bunch of lads," said Carew. "It's up to me to get the best out of them anyway. We've a big year ahead so hopefully we can carry on the groundwork we did last year."

Sligo will open their 2016 campaign next Sunday when they take on Galway in Tuam Stadium next Sunday in the opening round of the FBD League.

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