Shamrock Rovers have announced the return of Trevor Clarke, with the player making the loan-move from League One side Bristol Rovers for the 2023 season.
Clarke previously played for the Hoops between 2016 and 2019 and it's hoped that the deal will be made permanent at the end of this upcoming campaign.
The 24-year-old, who has been capped at underage level for the Republic of Ireland, joined Rotherham United after leaving the Hoops four years ago. Clarke's time in England was hampered by a number of injuries, with the defender suffering a knee injury on the day his signing for Rotherham was announced. After joining Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2021, Clarke's debut for the club on the opening day of the season saw him leave the field with a groin issue, for which he eventually had to undergo surgery on.
He did, however, regain full fitness ahead of Bristol Rovers sealing promotion to League One. That led to Clarke signing a new, two-year contract at the Memorial Stadium, in spite of manager Joey Barton's view that giving him a new deal was a "mistake" and that he doesn't "trust" Clarke. The Dubliner was told he could leave the club, but no offers came in ahead of the transfer deadline and the player forced his way back into the first team.
Last month, a freak training injury left Clarke with a torn groin muscle and on the sidelines again.
Despite that, his former employers have moved to bring the wing-back home, with head coach Stephen Bradley telling the Shamrock Rovers website: "We got speaking to Trevor the last few weeks and we were speaking to the club as well and thankfully we came to an agreement. We're delighted to get him in. We obviously know about Trevor's attributes from before he left but I think now he's a more mature player and a better all-round player."
"We feel that his pace and athleticism definitely adds to the team and the group. We know his character and personality, if you spend 10 minutes with Trevor now you see that he's a more mature man than the one that left us. He's a different man and, I believe, better for that. We're a different team to the one Trevor left as well so all-round I think both parties are a different state than what they were when Trevor left the club [in July 2019].
"He's hungry to be successful and I think that's important. When he was here, he helped the group and the club at the start and when he left, we've been very successful. Trevor wants to be part of a group that's successful and playing in Europe and obviously he'll have that opportunity here, if he works hard."
Also returning to his former club is Ben Doherty, with Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins confirming that the 25-year-old has rejoined from Larne on a three-year-deal.
Doherty made a total of 59 appearances during his earlier three year stint at the Brandywell before leaving in 2018 to go on loan to Glenavon.
That was followed by a spell at Coleraine before Doherty headed to where he played in a number of positions for Tiernan Lynch's outfit.
City boss Higgins was clearly delighted to bring the player back to Derry in a no-fee deal that will see Joe Thomson and Micheál Glynn join the current Irish Premiership leaders.
"It’s a great deal for us and I’m really happy to get it over the line." he told the Derry City website.
"He's also in exceptional condition physically and that’s a credit to the hard work he is putting in "
"Ben joins a list of players like Michael Duffy, Shane and Patrick McEleney and Ciaron Harkin who went away and then came back to the club as better players."
"He is very versatile and is a fantastic asset for Derry City."
