Former Linfield star Darren Murphy believes David Healy continues to expertly “maximise his squad to its full potential” after guiding the Blues to the Premiership’s summit once again.

After a shock 3-0 home defeat to Ballymena United on the opening day of the current campaign, Healy has masterminded Linfield’s resurgence, putting together a 14-game unbeaten run which includes victories over full-time rivals Coleraine (twice), Larne and Glentoran.

While many pre-season title predictions focused on Coleraine and reigning champions Larne, Linfield have put themselves firmly in the mix as Healy chases a seventh Gibson Cup across his successful Blues tenure.

Saturday’s 3-0 triumph over the Bannsiders sent Linfield top and continued their impressive home record – no team has registered more points at their own stadium than Healy’s men (19), conceding just five goals in eight matches at Windsor Park.

placeholder image — Linfield manager David Healy with goalscorer Rhys Brennan. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

Linfield faced criticism for their summer transfer business with six players arriving as either free agents or loanees.

However, Rhys Brennan and Kitt Nelson both scored in an impressive weekend win while Kobei Moore netted across three consecutive league games in September and October.

Healy has also transformed Isaac Baird this season with the former Glenavon midfielder now deployed in defence alongside Ben Hall.

"I think the big thing is the players trust him,” Murphy told the News Letter. “He sees players in different positions at times that can bring more out of them.

"I know there were a few eyebrows raised around the Kobei Moore signing, but Kobei was playing as an out-and-out centre forward, David has brought him in and he's playing in that number 10 role which has probably gave Kobei a new lease of life.

"David has been very good at that, analysing the players that he has, analysing their strengths and weaknesses and looking at it and thinking, ‘could this player play in a different position or a different role?’.

"Isaac Baird's another one, signed as a midfield player, but over this last number of months has comfortably moved to centre-half, looks assured, composed, and more importantly, looks happy.

"I think when you look at a lot of the players, they all seem content and happy...a lot of that comes down to the management team.

"David maximises his squad to its full potential. He's always able to get a competitive team on the park, he very rarely talks about what players he missed out on or what players left.

"David fully focuses on what players are there, because they're the players that can affect what happens.”

Murphy, who served as Healy’s assistant for two of his title triumphs, has witnessed the impact the Northern Ireland legend can have on players and feel he has worked his magic once again this season.

"I think what happens with the players is they come in and right away they get that sense of assurance, belief, and a man in front of them who they feel believes in them,” added Murphy. “That transforms the player on the pitch, that's how I see it.

"He's that type, he makes you feel that way.

"I think he underplays himself in the role that he has in that and I think the rest of his staff are the same. I know Ross (Oliver, assistant) and George (McCartney) are very similar – they make the players feel assured and confident.”