Linfield assistant manager Ross Oliver insists “everyone knows how important” star striker Matthew Fitzpatrick is to the Blues after bringing his Premiership goal tally for the season to 15 by netting a brace in Saturday’s 3-0 triumph over former club Glenavon.

It was a special week for Fitzpatrick, who followed up a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 6-0 demolition of Dungannon Swifts in fine fashion by finding the net in both halves at Mourneview Park.

His double, which was complemented by a Sam Taylor strike, secured what was only Linfield’s fourth away league win of the season and helped extend their unbeaten Premiership run to seven matches.

Only Fraser Bryden (18), Joel Cooper and Pat Hoban (both 17) have scored more league goals this term than Fitzpatrick, who has now netted eight times in seven Premiership matches throughout 2026.

placeholder image — Linfield assistant manager Ross Oliver happily watches on during his side's Premiership victory over Glenavon. (Photo by Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press)

While Oliver knows Fitzpatrick will ultimately be judged on his output, the Blues assistant insists he brings much more to the table than just goals.

"Fitzy's very important,” said Oliver, who was standing in for the suspended David Healy. “I think the players, the changing room, the staff, everyone knows how important Fitzy is to this football club and to us.

"When you're at this club, sometimes people are quick to jump on dips in form and quick to jump on things, but he's shown some resilience.

"He keeps bouncing back, along with the other players as well, and today he's done the same again.

"We work with him every day, we see even his character in the dressing room, we see small things that other people don't.

"Unfortunately in football, you're judged on 90 minutes on the pitch, but people don't see what happens off the pitch.

"All the characters that we have in the dressing room, Fitzy being one of them, he brings a whole lot more than just scoring goals on the pitch.”

Tranmere Rovers loanee Taylor looked dangerous throughout Saturday’s victory with his blistering pace causing Glenavon problems and he was rewarded with a simple finish for Linfield’s third.

The 22-year-old has only started seven league matches for the Blues this season, but Oliver believes there’s even more to come from Taylor with his confidence growing.

"Sam's a young lad, he's obviously came from Tranmere, he's taken a wee bit of time to find his feet,” he added. "He’s probably not used to the physicality of a league like the Irish League, but he's starting to find his feet.

"We are always saying to him ‘you've got pace, 1v1s, you're good at it, get at people’, and he's starting to believe a wee bit in himself.

"Sometimes young players like that maybe take a wee hit when they're loaned out, their confidence is a wee bit low, but then when they start finding that wee bit of confidence, you can see it building and building, and hopefully he continues to do that and continues to push on.

"Sometimes it comes down to the belief in the players themselves, and if they can believe in themselves, they'll find a way.

"He's starting to believe in himself, he just needs to find more belief, which we'll keep working with him.”