Michael O’Connor is happy to give boyhood Glenavon supporter Nathaniel Ferris a chance to rediscover top form after his loan move from Glentoran and feels the striker could become “a really important player” for the Lurgan Blues.

After completing his temporary switch to Mourneview Park, Ferris revealed he had been a Glenavon supporter “since I was four or five years old” and was embracing an opportunity to represent his hometown club.

Having lost three strikers last month before Bridel Bosakani was recalled by parent club Drogheda United, signing a new forward was top of the priority list for O’Connor and he moved to bring in Ferris.

Ferris enjoyed a sensational first season in the Premiership at Loughgall during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring 15 league goals while creating a formidable partnership with Benji Magee.

placeholder image — Glenavon manager Michael O'Connor. (Photo by Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press)

He netted another six the following season to earn a January move to full-time football with the Glens and racked up 15 league outings for Declan Devine’s side, but struggled for opportunities this term.

Ferris’ eye for goal could prove crucial in Glenavon’s bid to avoid Premiership relegation – they currently sit seven points adrift of Carrick Rangers at the bottom.

A major issue for the Co Armagh club has been goals, netting only 18 times in 23 league matches this term while failing to find the net in 11 of those fixtures.

Ferris is in line to make his Glenavon debut in Tuesday’s rearranged Irish Cup fifth round clash against Championship outfit Newington alongside fellow Glentoran loanee Charlie Lindsay.

“Charlie went to Rangers when he was a teenager and was reckoned to be the next big thing,” O’Connor told the club’s website. “Unfortunately, things did not work out for him.

"He came home and has been steadily rebuilding his career. For whatever reason, he wasn’t getting much game time at the Oval and was keen to play more regularly.

"Nathaniel did exceptionally well at Loughgall. His goals to games ratio was very impressive.

"Again, he made a big move to Glentoran and has not been able to cement a regular starting place. He wants to play and we are happy to give him the chance.

"He knows our club well because he and his family are all dyed-in-the-wool supporters. We feel that Charlie and Nathaniel will be really important players for us.”

In the same deal which resulted in Ferris and Lindsay’s Glenavon arrivals, influential midfielder Jack Malone went the opposite direction, making a move to full-time football at The Oval.

“Jack has probably been our best player since I arrived,” added O’Connor. “He has performed well in every match, has scored some important goals and has been a really positive influence in the dressing room.

"He has also been a great servant to Glenavon for the past three or four seasons. But, when Glentoran approached us, we felt that the move would give us the opportunity to strengthen the squad in a couple of other areas.

"Obviously, we desperately wanted to keep Jack and also bring in the two players we were interested in. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”