Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton doesn’t know when “important player” Harry Wilson will be back for the Reds after missing their “disheartening” 4-0 Premiership defeat to Glentoran.

Wilson has developed into a key presence in Cliftonville’s midfield since returning to Northern Ireland from Fleetwood Town in 2024, making 22 league appearances this term.

The 22-year-old scored a superb goal during Saturday’s triumph over North Belfast rivals Crusaders but missed out on Tuesday evening as the Glens netted four unanswered second half goals at Solitude.

Wilson’s Cliftonville form was rewarded with a call-up to Northern Ireland’s U21 squad earlier this season and he’ll be key to his club’s hopes of securing a top-half Premiership finish.

placeholder image — Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

Magilton was boosted by the return of Jonny Addis while goalkeeper PJ Morrison was named on the bench after missing several weeks through injury, but it remains to be seen when Wilson will return.

“Obviously we’re missing two important players,” Magilton told the club’s website. “Josh (Kelly) can’t play and we miss Harry Wilson, who had an outstanding game at the weekend and we don’t know how long until he’s going to be back.

"That kind of rejigs things but it gives other people an opportunity. We picked a very attack-minded team but we were careless.

“I was disappointed with the way we played in the first half.

“We created a great chance with a great set-piece and good header from Ryan (Curran) which, if he’s able to put it anywhere other than there, it’s a goal and we’d have been fortunate to go in 1-0 up at half-time. I think we were probably fortunate to go in at 0-0.

“We kept giving the ball away and what was more disappointing for me is that we’d too many people who didn’t want to actually get on the ball and that was a worry given what happened on Saturday.

“We were poor with the ball and when you’re poor with the ball against good players, they sense that and they go more aggressive, more physical and that’s what Glentoran did in the second-half.

"Once they scored the first goal, they smelt blood, went for the jugular and capitalised and punished us.

“It was a disheartening night. I gave them a bit of a rollicking at half-time and it didn’t work. For the second-half, we were totally outplayed.”

Cliftonville remain seventh, sitting two points behind sixth-placed Carrick Rangers with two matches in hand, but have now won just two of their last 10 league games.

“What upset me the most was watching players not take the ball and not be brave enough to take the ball,” added Magilton. “That was disheartening.

“Players have to be responsible when they cross the white line but obviously, collectively, I stand here as a figurehead, I’m the manager of the football club saying that was not an acceptable performance.

“Nobody takes these performances worse than me. I’ve been in the game long enough and I’ve always felt the same way, especially when I haven’t played well as a player.

"If my team hasn’t played well when I’m the manager, that’s my fault. I take full responsibility for it.”