Anthony Thompson returns to Donegal fold

Steel, energy, experience. Anthony Thompson is a good man to have back.

Declan Bonner and his McKenna Cup-winning Donegal side have been boosted by the return of one of the most iconic number 5s in the county's history. Anthony Thompson has rejoined the panel after a spell away under the stewardship of Rory Gallagher when he was also said to be travelling to London for work but the 31-year-old is back and ready to bolster a Donegal unit which is looking genuinely more and more exciting every week. In an exclusive story by the brilliant Donegal Sport Hub, Chris McNulty has reported that the Glenties club man has returned to the camp and could feature in the final two national league games - with the Tyrone match this weekend coming too soon for him. One of the moments that sum up Anthony Thompson was the start of the 2012 final against Mayo. It wasn't even anything he contributed to the play but after Michael Murphy rifled home that immortal goal into the Hill 16 net, Thompson was the first one at hand to congratulate him because it was Thompson who had busted his gut to get up in support. There he was, one of the most solid defenders in the country who'd swallow up the most evasive of them, and he was the one streaming off the full forward just in case he needed help. Under Jim McGuinness, Thompson became this all-purpose, all-important player who was crucial for the stability of the Donegal rearguard and just as deadly as McGlynn and Lacey at scaling the length of the field to tee up the forwards. So many times you'd see McFadden or Murphy or McBrearty loop around Thompson who was almost the battering ram gaining yards to free up his finishers in the pocket. He's a selfless player, a tireless one and, with an All-Ireland title and three Ulster medals in his back pocket, he's an invaluable leader too. Declan Bonner has lost squad players like Eoin McHugh, Michael Carroll and Peter Boyle in recent weeks but he's gained a man who will one day be considered a Donegal legend. And maybe there are even more chapters to write yet. Read the full report here.