Linfield should ‘enjoy and embrace’ the challenge

Although Healy is anticipating an added challenge given Cliftonville’s blank weekend schedule, the Blues boss is relishing the ‘massive game’ at a ‘tough venue’.

“It’s another Belfast derby and a massive game,” said Healy. “Cliftonville had no game at the weekend, so they should be fresh, which will give them an advantage.

“Solitude is always a tough venue.

“We were short of a few bodies at the weekend for different reasons, but we are sitting at the top of the league table at the minute, so it’s a game we should enjoy and embrace.

“We have had it tough up there on many occasions...but the boys are as fit as where we need them to get to.

“They will get fitter and stronger towards the end of the season.”

Linfield make the trip to Solitude fresh from a 6-0 success over Warrenpoint Town as Danske Bank Premiership fixtures made a return to the sporting calendar within Northern Ireland coronavirus restrictions for elite clubs.

Cliftonville’s game away to Ballymena United was postponed on Saturday following a pitch inspection.

Last weekend’s lunchtime kick-off featured a draw between Crusaders and Larne - the sides sitting next in line to Linfield in the table.

“Not really a motivational factor,” said Healy when asked about the 3-3 draw. “And it’s easy to say that.

“So, of course, we look at other results.

“I know how many goals we’ve conceded, I know how many goals we’ve scored and how many points we have.

“There is no point in me lying.

“I know where we are in the league, I know where we want to get to.

“We now have a big game against Cliftonville...bring it on.

“These boys have been over the course before and they’ve gone the distance, they know what it takes.

“They are excited by the challenge moving forward.”

Dungannon Swifts host Glenavon in another derby date.

“The games are coming thick and fast, I think we play Saturday-Tuesday for the next four or five weeks,” said Swifts boss Kris Lindsay. “It’s another big game for us...we need to be picking points up at home.

“There will be changes as players can’t be expected to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday.

“We’ll see how some of the boys are feeling and we’ll go and give it a blast.

“We’ve more options now with players coming in and our bench is looking a lot stronger.

“Matty Smith was on the bench against Coleraine and Ryan Mayse came on, Daniel Hughes and Kris Lowe were also on the bench.

“We had more options coming off the bench.

“Mark Patton and Shane McGinty weren’t involved as they were both carrying niggles, but we are starting to look stronger.

“We will need everyone between now and the end of the season, whenever that may be.”

FIXTURES: Cliftonville v Linfield, Dungannon Swifts v Glenavon, Glentoran v Carrick Rangers, Larne v Coleraine, Portadown v Crusaders, Warrenpoint Town v Ballymena United.