Benson fit ahead of big Champions League night for Dundalk

Having returned from injury recently, Athlone native Robbie Benson will be hoping to feature for Dundalk in their UEFA Champions League first round tie against FC Riga of Latvia tonight (Wednesday). 

The first leg clash at Oriel Park will be televised live on RTE 2, with coverage starting at 7.30pm ahead of a 7.45pm kick-off.

The prizemoney available from competing in Europe means the tie against the Latvian champions represents a hugely significant moment in Dundalk's year.

The Louth club are guaranteed around €800,000 from the fixture, irrespective of the result, but advancing over the two legs would bag them a further €400,000. 

Benson, from Mayfield Grove in Athlone, suffered a serious leg injury in the opening moments of Dundalk's first game of the season back in February. 

He was out of action for more than four months but is now fit again and has featured in recent league games for Dundalk.  

Incidentally, Pat Dolan, in his 'Irish Daily Star' column last Friday, compared Benson to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, who has taken over as manager of the west London giants.

“So Frank Lampard is coming to Dublin next week. He was a fine midfielder at his peak, though he was no Robbie Benson. But I am sure we will all give him a good Irish welcome,” wrote Dolan in a slightly wacky piece about Chelsea visiting Dublin to play Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic this week, and the ticket prices for these friendlies.