Linfield manager David Healy has hit back at those who criticise his side’s use of the pitch at Windsor Park, saying “it’s in the contract” that the Blues can train on it once per week.

The National Stadium’s playing surface has come in for heavy criticism from a number of Irish League managers, including Healy, who labelled it as a “real crap pitch” after Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership win over Ballymena United.

Windsor Park passed an early morning pitch inspection ahead of Linfield’s league fixture, but conditions again weren’t ideal at the Belfast venue.

Having previously deemed the pitch “borderline unplayable at times”, Healy feels their home ground should be “maintained a little bit better” and dismissed criticism from certain quarters that they use it too frequently.

placeholder image — Linfield manager David Healy. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

Linfield largely use Midgley Park, the artificial pitch located across the car park from Windsor, to prepare for matches and a clause in the club’s contract states they’re able to train at the National Stadium once a week.

Northern Ireland were last in action at Windsor Park on November 17 when Michael O’Neill’s side defeated Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier, and with March’s play-off semi-final being hosted in Italy, there’s no current date set for their return.

Healy also believes staging an IBF World Welterweight Championship boxing bout between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan in September has impacted pitch quality.

"Sometimes I need to be careful what I say,” Healy told the club’s media channel. “There’s a lot out there and people say ‘Linfield train on the pitch’ and whatever else, it’s in the contract that we train on the pitch once a week.

"If we have an away game we very rarely train on the pitch. We like to do a small session on the pitch to prepare for a home game, but again, it’s in the contract.

"The pitch should be maintained a little bit better. If there had been an international game between November and February or March, I firmly believe the pitch would be in better condition.

"It’s disappointing. I’ve spoken to people at the club about speaking to the IFA (Irish Football Association) because when the pitch was relaid we were told it would last maybe three or five years and be topped up every so often.

"The boxing was a huge event and it was brilliant success for Lewis and his team, but I don’t think the pitch has recovered from that.

"We certainly haven’t got the benefits of the pitch which we should...it should be a better playing surface.

"People will say it’s the same for both teams, which of course is right, but when you want to play in a certain way, it restricts you.”

The Blues extended their unbeaten Premiership run to five matches on Saturday as Matt Yates’ strike combined with a late Shane McEleney own goal secured a 2-1 win over Ballymena.

Linfield travel to Limavady United in the Irish Cup sixth round on Friday evening before returning to Windsor Park against Dungannon Swifts on February 10.