Coleraine manager Ruaidhri Higgins believes the way David Healy has dealt with criticism at Linfield is “admirable” – and hailed him as “a brilliant example” to all bosses.

Higgins and Healy will meet at The Showgrounds on Friday night with their teams sitting first and second respectively in the Premiership.

While Coleraine have put together an eight-game unbeaten run, Linfield had to bounce back from opening day adversity after losing 3-0 at home to Ballymena United.

The Blues have responded by winning six and drawing one of their last seven, keeping five clean sheets during that run.

placeholder image — Linfield manager David Healy (right) and Ruaidhri Higgins. (Photo by INPHO/Brian Little)

Northern Ireland legend Healy has won six Premiership titles, four League Cups and two Irish Cups throughout a hugely successful decade-long spell as Linfield manager, but has also had to deal with criticism at times.

Healy hit out at “nothing short of disgraceful” abuse following their defeat to Ballymena in August.

While Coleraine and reigning champions Larne entered the season as favourites for Gibson Cup glory – and remain in that position – Higgins is clear Linfield can’t be counted out.

"This Linfield team, in my view, is quite exciting,” said Higgins. “I always would have associated Linfield teams over the years with being physical and powerful – this is a really dynamic Linfield team with loads of energy and creative players.

"I have so much time and respect for David. The longevity, the consistency, the numbers since he's been in there, the way that he bounces back from criticism, it's just admirable.

"He's actually a brilliant example to all managers on how to dust yourself down and crack on.

"I did say in pre-season that anyone that writes Linfield off is extremely naive.

"People seem to forget that they have players who have loads of medals – Chris Shields, Kyle McClean, Jamie Mulgrew, Ben Hall, Ethan McGee, Chris Johns, all these lads who are serial, serial winners.

"Then you have a manager with that toughness and that grit about him and success behind him, so it has not surprised me in the slightest.

"I think they've recruited really smartly as well.

"The players and David deserve a lot of credit for what they've done so far and what I think they'll do until the end of the season, but it's up to us now at home...we have an outstanding home record.”

No team has scored more league goals (18) than Coleraine this season while the only points they’ve dropped were in a stalemate against Larne.

Higgins is in charge of a star-studded squad with the likes of Rowan McDonald and Connor Murray working their way back to full fitness, but the Coleraine chief feels other teams are also in strong positions.

"It's funny, people talk about us having this huge squad, but you look at Larne, Larne have seven centre forwards,” added Higgins. "You look at Glentoran, they've a huge squad as well, you look at their bench still with the injuries that they have.

"Linfield have probably not got the biggest squad but they've got quality, and then you look at the likes of Ballymena who are part-time with a huge squad.

"You need like for likes, but you need that balance of different types of players in each position which I think we've done well.”