'He was the best player in the league': Larne welcome back key star from four-month injury absence
Gary Haveron admits it’s a major boost to have Larne’s midfield maestro Mark Randall back available after his near four-month injury absence – insisting he “was the best player in the league” across the first half of the season.
Randall was introduced for the final minutes of the Inver Reds’ 2-0 Premiership win over Cliftonville on Saturday – a result which extended their advantage at the summit to six points as nearest title rivals Glentoran drew with Linfield at The Oval.
The 36-year-old scored five goals in his opening 16 league appearances of the current campaign and provided a creative spark which set Larne on track for success, but had been out of action since early-December.
Former Arsenal midfielder Randall has returned at a crucial time with Haveron’s men preparing for next weekend’s Irish Cup semi-final clash with Coleraine at Windsor Park before four final Premiership fixtures.
They’ll be hoping to turn their current advantage into a third Gibson Cup crown across the past four seasons and Haveron is delighted to have a key player back at his disposal.
"It’s really pleasing to get Mark back,” said Haveron. “We go into the game without Logan Wallace, Dan Bent and James Simpson, who were all on international duty, but we made the decision to play the game.
"We then missed Leroy Millar, Dylan Sloan and Tiarnan O'Connor, so that’s six big, big players who have been massive players for us over the course of the season.
"To miss those six players and still keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win, it’s pleasing...they'll all come into the mix for next week.
"Mark Randall coming back, I said it before and I'll say it again, I thought for the first half of the season he was the best player in the league.
"It’s absolutely brilliant to have Mark back out there, getting a few minutes in the legs."
Larne striker Andy Ryan scored a late second on Saturday, adding to Matty Lusty’s first half strike to seal maximum points and extend his side’s unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions.
Scottish star Ryan missed the opening five months of the season through injury, but since returning to action in late-December has scored 12 goals in 13 league appearances.
The 31-year-old, who finished top scorer during the 2023/24 campaign as Larne defended their title, has now struck in each of his last five games, including braces against both Ballymena United and Dungannon Swifts.
Haveron wonders what position his side would be if Ryan had been available for the entire campaign.
"Imagine if he'd started the season where we would have been...maybe we wouldn't have to worry about these last lot of games!" added Haveron. "The lad is a ridiculously good goalscorer, he's your talisman...we missed him badly when he wasn't available with the injury.
"But he certainly came back in fine form, and it's great to see.
"He's very calm in front of goal, he doesn't really snatch at things. He has that composure and that experience...he's who you want the ball to fall to.”