Brian Dooher will return to the Tyrone team as captain

But manager Mickey Harte will have to nominate a stand-in captain for the Dr McKenna Cup and possibly the early stages of the National Football League.

Dooher is continuing his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury and will not be available for the Red Hands until late January at the earliest.

Dooher has been sidelined since sustaining a cracked kneecap during a training accident in June.

The former Allstar's two previous seasons in the role produced a stark contrast in fortunes.

In 2005 he led the Ulster county to All-Ireland glory, but last year missed most of the season due to injury as the Sam Maguire Cup holders surrendered their crown rather tamely.

Tyrone were hit by a rash of injuries in 2006, which also robbed them of the services at crucial stages of Brian McGuigan, Colin Holmes, Stephen O'Neill and Gerard Cavlan, while Conor Gormley broke an ankle after the side's exit from the title race at the hands of Laois.

All are well on the road to recovery, however, and Harte expects to have a fully fit squad at his disposal by the midway point of the NFL.