Striker makes sensational Coleraine return

Jamie McGonigle has returned to the Coleraine Showgrounds

Coleraine have brought striker Jamie McGonigle back to the club from Derry City as they attempt to turn their season around.

As revealed by Belfast Telegraph, a deal was struck for the 27-year-old to return to the Showgrounds where he enjoyed success first time around winning the Irish Cup. The Dungiven man has signed a three-and-half year deal with the Bannsiders.

Coleraine boss Oran Kearney said: “We have spoken quite a bit about how the injury to Matthew Shevlin has hurt us in terms of scoring goals this season.

“We’re creating chances at present and it’s important we start putting the ball into the back of the net which Jamie can do.

“We said it in the summer that we need to add more goals and Jamie certainly has the pedigree to do that.

“Jamie was eager to come back to the club when we expressed our interest and that was really refreshing.”

The move follows Coleraine announcing on Monday that Jack Scott had joined the Bannsiders after leaving Linfield earlier in the season.

With Scott's arrival and the return of McGonigle it is clear the board are backing manager Oran Kearney in the January transfer window.

Kearney has faced criticism from a section of the Coleraine support after a poor first half of the season.

There will be hope that the new signings can improve results and the mood around the club.

McGonigle was a hit in his first spell prior to joining Crusaders in 2019. Two years later he switched to Derry City where he was a popular figure with the fans. Sources suggest Scott and McGonigle will be joined by other new faces in January.