Shelbourne have been hit with a considerable blow for the title run-in as Will Jarvis has been recalled by parent club Hull City from his loan spell.
Jarvis signed for a second temporary spell with the Reds last January and was due to stay at Tolka Park for the remainder of the League of Ireland season.
But the Championship side have opted to invoke a release clause in the agreement.
The attacker has scored eight times this season and claimed the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month in March and June.
He was expected to be in the running for the Player of the Year award and a key man for Shels in their bid to land an unlikely league crown.
The Reds drew 0-0 with Derry City last night to maintain their three-point advantage at the top of the Premier Division table.
Mattie Smith is likely to see more game time with fellow striker Sean Boyd currently struggling with an injury problem.
Jarvis may now come into contention for Hull ahead of the start of the English Championship season this weekend.
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