By Cian O’Connell

Galway manager Pádraic Joyce has confirmed that Liam Silke is an injury concern for Sunday’s eagerly anticipated Allianz Football League encounter against Mayo at Pearse Stadium.

Silke suffered the hamstring problem in the closing stages of Galway’s recent Pairc Tailteann win over Meath.

The Corofin clubman is Galway’s only concern ahead of the vital game with James Horan’s outfit at Salthill.

“Liam Silke is probably the biggest doubt with a hamstring strain, the rest of them are fine,” Joyce stated at a media briefing on Monday.

“He is the biggest doubt at the minute. He tweaked a hamstring the last day against Meath, the last run he made up the pitch. He got dragged down when he was looking to pass the ball.

“He wasn't expecting the tackle, but he has a small little twinge on it and it is near the bottom of his hamstring near the knee which is a dangerous spot to have it. He is under big pressure for Sunday.”

Joyce praised the Galway backroom, who have worked hard to ensure the maroon and white have come through a busy spell relatively unscathed.

“Someone asked the question are you training hard enough if you haven't enough injuries because you are supposed to have injuries,” Joyce remarked.

“The way we look at it is once the lads are on the pitch training Tuesdays and Fridays and playing Sundays we try to keep as many of them on the pitch as we can.

“In fairness to Mike Comer and Cian (Breathnach), they look after the S and C, they are fairly good.

"The lads do let them know if they are feeling tired so we don't flog them.

“The big thing is to keep them fresh for games at this time of the year. We have a block of four or six weeks over the next while to do serious hard training.