Manager Jim McCorry says he has "kept a place" for Marty Clarke in his Down senior football squad.

Although he returned to Ireland last year, former Aussie Rules footballer Clarke - who has Addison's disease - hasn't yet made himself available to Down and hasn't featured at intercounty level since 2011. But he is moving well for An Riocht and McCorry hopes to have him at his disposal for the championship.

"He's easing himself back into the club scene first, doing a bit of work and getting some game time and fitness before he commits back to the county," McCorry explains in The Irish News.

"Obviously, to come into a county set-up he needs to be 100%. The door is open for Marty Clarke whenever he's ready to come back - we'd welcome him back tomorrow if he wants to join our squad.

"Marty knows that whenever the medical people tell him that he's able to come back in at county level and his body is able to do that, the door is open for him.

"We've kept a place for him. We'd love him back in now. It would be a good time to join the squad with the championship preparations starting now but he has to be physically and mentally able to do that. Whenever he is, the door is open."

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