Glenavon manager Michael O’Connor believes his squad is now in a much healthier position as they look to pull off a great escape from Premiership relegation – and insists he’ll have a selection “headache” for Tuesday’s trip to Carrick Rangers.

After being eliminated from the Irish Cup in the dying seconds against Cliftonville, Glenavon’s full focus now turns to league duties in their bid to preserve top-flight status.

The Lurgan Blues currently sit nine points adrift of Crusaders and remain without a point on their travels this term – Glenavon have lost 13 on the trot away from Mourneview Park, but won five of eight under O’Connor at home.

Their 21-year Premiership stay looks in serious threat with 12 matches left to claw back the gap, but O’Connor feels his options have been boosted by a positive transfer window.

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

Glentoran loanee Charlie Lindsay impressed in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat while Nathaniel Ferris provides Glenavon with an attacking focal point.

With a view to Tuesday’s crucial clash, O’Connor opted to start Peter Campbell on the bench at Solitude alongside Sean Carlin, but he now has full faith in his entire squad.

"When I came in October, I couldn't rotate the squad,” he said. “I couldn't leave players out.

"Players were being overplayed and you could see they were tiring. (On Saturday) I made three or four changes and I'm still confident thinking we can win, that's a good thing we have now.

"We've left Peter Campbell on the bench, Harry Murphy, Sean Carlin, who's come back in and done really well.

"We're leaving these players on the bench knowing that the players coming in are going to do a job. I thought the boys that came in done really well.

"The objective when we came in was to keep the club up, it wasn't about winning the Irish Cup.

"It would have been nice to get on a wee run...we hadn’t won away from home this year and hadn’t won back-to-back, so (Cliftonville) was a perfect opportunity to break that duck.

"Tuesday's a massive game for us. It's going to be a big one, so hopefully we can go in there and get a positive result.”

Glenavon have conceded 52 goals in their 26 Premiership matches this term – Crusaders (54) are the sole side to leak more – with 32 of those coming on the road.

They’ve also only scored seven times on their travels, but with the likes of Campbell, Ferris and highly-rated Paul McGovern at his disposal, O’Connor is excited by his attacking options.

"It's important that when we do go and attack, we've got that rest defence,” he added. “You're at your most vulnerable when you're attacking.

"I think we've done that really well since I've come in. Obviously, the last (league) game against Cliftonville, we were a bit more attacking with the one six and two 10s, if you want to call it that.

"It's looking good. As I say, the players that came in (on Saturday) have done themselves a world of good. It's going to be a headache for me on Tuesday to pick a team.”