Warren Feeney delighted with 'exceptional' Fuad Sule after making debut in Europa Conference League draw against Gzira United

The Glens made a bright start in Malta with Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe putting an early missed penalty behind him to give Feeney’s men the lead after nine minutes before the hosts hit back, taking a 2-1 advantage into half-time.

Sule was introduced at the break following his headline move to The Oval last weekend and watched on as Daire O’Connor, also making his competitive debut for the club after switching from Ayr United earlier this summer, scored two minutes after the restart to give Glentoran real hope of progressing on home turf next week.

"I'm very happy,” Feeney told GlensTV when asked about the performances of his new signings. “I thought Daire was outstanding for the goal, Fudzer is a wee bit rusty and needs games but I had the confidence to fire him in.

"I thought he was exceptional and kept us tidy in there. He settled the game down. I'm really pleased for everyone because look at the travelling support here today, it's phenomenal.

"I was gobsmacked at the amount of fans. I know we are a big club but fair play to them coming all the way over here. They got behind the players and that's what we want. It's half-time and we want to get The Oval rocking next week and take the game to them."

If Glentoran can secure their passage to the second qualifying round for the first time in a European competition since 2011 on Thursday, they will meet either League of Ireland outfit St Patrick’s Athletic or Luxembourg’s Dudelange.

While acknowledging a draw on the road in Europe is a fantastic result, Feeney says his side will be going all out in search of victory in Belfast.

"You've got to be happy to come away in Europe at this time of season,” he added. “They are a good side and have knocked some teams out in the last six years, so I think a draw is a fair result for us and I'm pleased but a wee bit disappointed we didn't come away with the victory.

"I thought at the end there I couldn't see a foul and the ref blew, but you have to be happy coming away in European football and get a result.

"Yes, the goals we gave away are down to rustiness, but to come back and get a draw away from home is a fantastic result for us.

"Now they know what we are about and we know what they are about. We're going to go for them and that's the way we're going to be at home.

"I thought we were very disciplined, well-organised and I want the fans out in their numbers next week because it's a great night for us on our home ground.

"We can't be too over-confident in it because they are difficult games of football but we have to make sure we're ready and believe me we will be."