By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL manager Paddy Carr has backed the resilience of his skipper Paddy McBrearty and backs him for an inter-county return before the end of the season.

The Kilcar sharpshooter, Donegal’s only link with the 2012 All-Ireland winning team, was replaced 58 minutes into their defeat to Tyrone earlier his month.

“When we got the medical assessment of Paddy’s injury, it didn’t seem to tally with how he was feeling,” Carr said after Sunday’s draw with Galway at O’Donnell Park.

“The fact was that the injury needed surgery and it was a tendon tear,” Carr outlined.

“He is a very resilient guy and he is still very much our captain, he has a big part to play in that as well.

“It is not easy, those type of setbacks. I would like to think we’ll be still going to be playing very important football when Patrick is back out on the pitch.”

Donegal have three points from their four games and face a trip to Armagh on Saturday before their league programme concludes with the visit of Mayo and a trip to a Roscommon side trained by Donegal All-Ireland winner Mark McHugh.

There were returns in recent weeks for Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Michael Langan and Oisin Gallen.

While Ryan McHugh has played in early season challenge games, he is yet to see any competitive action. Ciaran Thompson hasn’t featured since the opening game, a Dr McKenna Cup defeat to Down.

“Ryan at the moment, I wouldn’t think so,” Carr replied when asked if McHugh or Thompson would be in contention for the Armagh game.

“We are guided by medical advice on that. Those boys are following a programme. You don’t want to be putting them into a situation where the possibility of a reoccurrence of injury.

“It is an enormous act of patience but the two guys you mentioned will all add to the equation.”