DONAL McDermott is tonight set to hit the comeback trail when he lines up in Cherries’ Hampshire Senior Cup final against Alresford Town at Dean Court (7.30pm kick-off).

McDermott, whose last appearance for the first team came as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Yeovil on Boxing Day, is expected to be named in the Cherries starting line-up.

Dubliner McDermott returned to training recently after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in Cherries’ quarter-final victory in this competition against Eastleigh in January.

He is likely to be joined in a strong Cherries team by transfer window signing Ryan Fraser, who has made five appearances from the bench since his arrival from Aberdeen.

Darryl Flahavan, who marked his comeback from a lengthy injury layoff by saving two penalties in Cherries’ semi-final win over AFC Totton last month, is also set to start.

Striker Jayden Stockley, who has just returned from a fruitful loan spell with Conference outfit Woking, could also feature against Wessex Premier Alresford.

Development squad coach Chris Hargreaves and Cherries star Steve Purches, who has been helping with coaching the club’s young players, will take the team.

Hargreaves said: “We just want the lads to make the most of the buzz going around the club at the moment. It would be a fantastic achievement to win the cup and, hopefully, the players will take inspiration from Saturday’s events.”

Entry is £10 for adults and £5 for over-65s and under-16s.

Cherries: (from) Flahavan, Cargill, Turner, Carmichael, Gilkes, Wakefield, Bassele, McDermott, Fraser, Chiedozie, Goodship, Matthews, Kaye, West, Tierney.