Jim Magilton: Squad being stretched gives opportunities for others in my Cliftonville panel
Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton hopes a break from midweek action has come at the right time as the Reds face league leaders Larne on Saturday.
A gruelling schedule for Magilton’s troops will see them complete their eighth game this month in all competitions as they lock horns with a Larne side who are four points clear at the summit.
Cliftonville will have to do it without their captain Rory Hale who was sent-off in last weekend’s draw with Ballymena United, with international call-ups and injuries also limiting Magilton’s options.
But the Cliftonville chief has called on other members of his squad to seize their opportunity if called upon at Inver Park.
"Listen the relaxation of the games in terms of the fixtures is great for us,” he said.
"As I say it gives people an opportunity to rest up and that's important. It's equally as important, rest as it is to train, and at the moment we're not doing anything in terms of training.
"We're just maintaining the group and making sure that we get through game by game.
"We regroup, we go again, because that's what we have to do, and for every person that comes out of the team, there's an opportunity for someone to come in and stick a claim.
“That's equally as important in any squad, so they have to understand that, and I think they do.
"Adebayo (Fapetu) and Harry Wilson have freak injuries, and Kyle McClelland has a freak injury, so all these things do mount up, but as I say, it's always an opportunity for someone else.
"But with the quality we lose, it's very difficult to replace that, simply because the young lads who we think are really good players, and certainly do have that quality, this league is unforgiving.”
Cliftonville know they will be involved in the end-of-season play-offs for a crack at European football – if they fail to win the Irish Cup – where they will face last year’s nemesis Dungannon Swifts in the last four stage.
Magilton has guided the Reds to back-to-back European qualification during his two full seasons in charge so far but does he think he can make it a hat-trick come the end of the campaign?
"I can't wait, I absolutely love it beyond words, and that's the appeal of being around a football club I guess,” he replied.
"I'm still very, very ambitious, and I'm still very, very determined to get to another final.
“We know that Dungannon are going to prove a big obstacle for us, but we've got to be ready for it, and we've got to try and do everything we can to be there in that showcase final.”
Larne were 3-0 victors at Glenavon last time out as Paul O’Neill, Leroy Millar and Andy Ryan bagged the goals at Mourneview Park.
The Inver Reds are set to do battle without the services of Dan Bent this weekend as the midfielder is currently with the Gibraltar senior squad for a Nations League double-header against Latvia.