Crusaders will welcome star striker Fraser Bryden back into their ranks for Tuesday’s trip to reigning champions Linfield – and boss Declan Caddell is determined to continue building on momentum created in recent weeks.

Bryden sits top of the Premiership’s goalscoring charts having struck 13 times in as many appearances at the start of his Irish League career.

As reported by the News Letter last week, the former Ayr United striker has attracted interest from clubs in England’s League Two ahead of the January transfer window.

The 21-year-old missed Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Ballymena United through suspension, but is once again available to Caddell in what will be the Crues’ first clash of the season against Linfield – their previous league fixture was postponed due to Storm Amy in October.

placeholder image — Crusaders manager Declan Caddell. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

While currently sitting 10th, the North Belfast outfit have put together a three-game unbeaten run which includes victories over Carrick Rangers and Glenavon.

Caddell wants to use recent results as a platform to improve league position and knows just how crucial consistency is in Northern Ireland’s top-flight.

“Every manager in the league is striving for that consistency and that wee bit of momentum,” he said. “Seven points out of nine isn't a bad return over those three games, two of them were away too.

"You've just got to bank it. It's a tough league. You can't rest on your laurels in this league. It's points banked and now we move on to the next one.

"You just want to look forward to the next game. I think when you've got a couple of positive results, you just want to keep looking forward and moving on.

"There's some things (against Ballymena) we did really well, other things not so well, which you see in every game. It’s a short turnaround and we’ll put a plan together for going to Windsor, which is going to be a really tough game.”

Only the Premiership’s top two – Coleraine and Larne – have scored more league goals this term than Crusaders (24), but conceding 29 times has ultimately halted top-flight table progression.

Caddell has an array of attacking talent at his disposal in the shape of Bryden, Adam Brooks and winger Elliot Dunlop – only Joel Cooper has completed more dribbles than the Scottish star this term.

The former Irish League midfielder will be seeking defensive improvements over the coming weeks and feels there were positive signs from Saturday’s showing.

"We had a good conversation about that too many times at the start of the season when teams would put it up, we'd probably shy away,” he added. “But especially over the last three weeks...Carrick away, a really difficult place to go and different surface to home.

"Glenavon had just come off the win against Glentoran, another difficult game, and Ballymena have a squad full of experience. Some have had great careers and they threw everything at the young lads.

"They stood up and were counted, so you can only take that as a positive moving forward.”