Aaron McEneff makes Shamrock Rovers return

Aaron McEneff has joined Shamrock Rovers on an initial loan from Perth Glory, with the deal to become a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

McEneff previously played for the Hoops for two seasons - 2019-2020, helping the side to FAI Cup and league success. The Derry native spent a couple of seasons as a youth player with Tottenham, before joining his hometown club in 2018. After his previous spell with Shamrock Rovers, McEneff made the move to Scotland, signing for Hearts. He was on the move again in 2022, when signing for A-League outfit Perth Glory.

Hoops boss Stephen Bradley is happy that the midfielder is returing to the club.

He told shamrockrovers.ie "Yes, we are absolutely delighted. We all know what Aaron does and what he did for us when he was here first time around, so we're over the moon to get him back. Aaron and I always kept in contact since when he first left for Scotland.

"We had constant dialogue, so when it became apparent it was possible to have Aaron home and that he wanted to do that, we pushed on and got it done which I’m delighted about.

"Before he left, he was the best midfielder in the country. We need to let him settle back in and get him up to speed again. Aaron is proven quality, so we’re delighted to get him back in."

Alan Mannus, Ronan Finn, Aaron Greene, Graham Burke, Jack Byrne and Trevor Clarke have all left and later returned to Rovers with great effect. As to whether something similar will happen with McEneff's second coming, Bradley added: "I think it speaks volumes for the group in terms of we’ve lost some big players through the years, and we’ve kept evolving and moving on, but it speaks volumes that those players want to come back into the group at some point.

"They’ve come back