Oran Kearney confident there's more to come from Ballymena United's 'great signing'
Ballymena United manager Oran Kearney believes there’s even more to come from his star striker Igor Rutkowski after a stunning start to life at The Showgrounds.
Former Portadown youngster Rutkowski joined the Sky Blues from Championship club Armagh City in January and has quickly proven himself in Northern Ireland’s top-flight.
The 21-year-old took his Premiership goal tally to 11 in 13 matches by scoring another brace in Saturday’s come-from-behind victory at Carrick Rangers – his injury time strike sealed a 3-2 triumph.
Rutkowski has now netted twice against Carrick on two separate occasions while he also registered doubles versus Crusaders and Cliftonville.
He scored 21 league goals for Armagh last term and another seven this season before Ballymena won the race for his signature, and Kearney is delighted with Rutkowski’s immediate impact.
"You’ve got to be sniffing and be in around those areas,” Kearney told the club’s media channel. “Yes, a few of them have been penalties – you still have to convert those and there was a bit of pressure (on Saturday’s) with us being 2-1 down.
"He slots it home really well and was in the right place for his second.
“It has been a great start for him, he’ll be the first to tell you he still has bits and pieces to do and things to work on, but his enthusiasm has been infectious.
"He has been a great signing for us.”
Saturday’s success means Ballymena have now put together a five-game unbeaten Premiership run – a streak which has helped them move up to eighth, leapfrogging Bangor and Portadown.
After a postponement due to a failed pitch inspection earlier this month, Kearney’s men are preparing for a quick turnaround as Bangor visit The Showgrounds on Tuesday night.
With Carrick sealing the final European play-off position, Ballymena are amongst a trio of teams hoping to finish eighth and Kearney wants to end the season on a high.
"You have to try and create some targets and ours has always been to try and reel those teams in,” he added. “We’re just ahead of them now in eighth and it’s about kicking on and getting another victory or two to secure that eighth place and having some respectability for the season.”