Cork manager Brian Cuthbert is confident that Michael Shields will be fit for Sunday week's Allianz Football League final against Dublin.

The full back and captain was forced to retire with a groin injury in the closing stages of last Sunday's win over Donegal, but Cuthbert expects him to be available for the Croke Park showdown. However, he wasn't so confident of toe injury victim Donncha O'Connor being ready.

"Michael Shields should be okay," the manager said.

"We'll see exactly what the story is during the week, but we're hoping he'll be okay. Donncha had a scan on a toe injury and again, we'll have to see how he is. The scan was inconclusive so we'll have to see."

Cuthbert was also unsure when midfielder Ian Maguire would return from the back injury he sustained against Monaghan.

"I don't think there's any timeline on that, he's getting closer and closer every week. I'd say within two to three weeks he should be back training, and we'll see how he reacts to that then," he continued.

"We've tried plenty of different people at midfield and they've all brought positives to the job to be fair. It would have been nice for Ian to get through the league considering his age, but that's not going to happen."

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