Dowie On Northern Ireland trip

"My family is from Dunmurry, which is just outside Belfast, and I had many happy times playing for my country,said the City boss to the club website. "This isn't the first pre-season trip I have had to Northern Ireland and it's a fantastic environment to get our heads down and focus on what we have to do.

"It will be hard work for everyone and I am sure that when the players aren't training, they will be sleeping! All of the players who have travelled with us will be playing a part over here in either or both of the games.

"It's an opportunity for everyone to show what they can do and for myself and my coaching staff to assess where we are in terms of preparation for the new campaign. "I have been very impressed with what I have seen so far and I see no reason why we can't build on that. "Other than the injury to Arjan De Zeeuw, we've been very fortunate in terms of injuries to players and I hope that continues."

City play Glentoran at The Oval in East Belfast on Tuesday before travelling to Ballymena on Saturday to visit the Showgrounds.