Squads will prove their worth in battle for the title

The Blues boss was let smarting after his side’s recent defeat at Warrenpoint Town and admitted he went “back to what he knew” for last week’s victory over Cliftonville.

But Healy added that anyone who he calls upon should be ready to step up, especially for big games like tonight’s clash at Larne.

“We take the injuries on the chin, we’re a management team that has huge belief in the players we have whether it be 15 fit players or 20,” he told the club website.

“Anyone that we decide to call upon should want to show the attitude to keep them in and around the squad.

“Mark Stafford returned against Cliftonville and I thought he was immense.

“When you do lose a game sometimes you go back to what you know and who you can really sort of rely on.

“Stafford has never let me down and I thought he was a credit in the game.

“It’s important to have the likes of him, Jimmy Matty Clarke, Quinny, Mulgrew, Kirk Millar, Andy Waterworth - [players who have been there and done it, and that’s what we went with against Cliftonville.

“It was a good win and a solid performance from one to eleven on Saturday.

“We needed a response from the Warrenpoint game, we got that, but more importantly we got the three points.”

Larne also had to put their squad to good use last week as both Ronan Hale and Johnny McMurray came off the bench to earn them all three points at home to Glenavon.

Boss Tiernan Lynch was delighted with their contribution, but said he understood their frustration at not playing more regularly.

“Both Ronan and Johnny are probably a little bit frustrated at the moment because they want to play,” said the Larne manager.

“They have fantastic ability and we saw against Glenavon what they are capable of.”