Former Shamrock Rovers striker Eoin Doyle believes the Hoops will retain their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title if they strengthen in goal.
Stephen Bradley's side have endured an inconsistent and injury-hit campaign although the manager has remained vocally confident that they will eventually hit their stride and put themselves back in contention for a historic fifth league triumph in a row.
The two-week mid-season break is looming with a Dublin derby at Richmond Park to come before that tonight against Stephen Kenny's St Patrick's Athletic and as things stand, Shamrock Rovers are nine points adrift of leaders Shelbourne with a game in hand.
While they have shown a propensity to recover from slow starts in recent seasons, one guarantee would be to reinforce the squad with a new goalkeeper, according to Doyle, due to occasional question marks over current number Leon Pohls' form since succeeding the now retired Alan Mannus.
"For me, I actually think if on the first day of the window a good goalkeeper comes in the door, they'll win the league," the ex-St Pat's, Sligo Rovers, Cardiff, Preston and Hibernian striker told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
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"I think their goalie situation is what's killing them. I think they'd be top of the league now if they had a really good goalkeeper.
"I'm not sure if they're out looking at goalkeepers but to me it looks like even in general play they're nervous knowing that he's behind them.
"And that's not really a good thing. I've experienced that myself in teams over the years when you had a goalkeeper you didn't trust and you'd be afraid to even be positive in attack.
"It's kind of a strange mental block you put on yourself within the team."
However, Doyle added that the return to full fitness of the likes of Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff, Neil Farrugia and Trevor Clarke will give them a boost out-field.
Whether Shamrock Rovers are on the look-out for a goalkeeper is unclear but certainly Doyle expects St Pat's to be very busy when the transfer window opens in July as former Republic of Ireland manager Kenny looks to revamp his Saints side.
"I'd imagine between them, Bohs and Dundalk, they'll probably be the most active in the window when it opens up," he said.
"I'd say there will be a lot of changes in Pat's, not only in this window but over the next 12-18 months. I'd say it will be a totally different team in 12-18 months and it's a really tough season for them.
"I don't even know if fourth is a possibility at the minute. If you look at Bohs, they're level on points with them but Pat's have played four games more than them so it's going to be a really tough challenge.
"Obviously Waterford are up there at the minute in fourth place, Galway (United) doing well, so it's going to be a tough challenge."
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