Manager’s programme notes
Posted : 9th May 2018
Tonight we will face a formidable challenge from our major rivals Glentoran, as we both battle it out for a vital place in next season’s Europa League. Games between our two clubs this season have all been tight, close and fiercely competitive affairs and with a huge prize at stake for the winners in Saturday’s final, I expect tonight’s game to be similar to the previous hard-fought encounters we have participated in this season.
We have all been hugely disappointed by our league form this season but we are all focused on trying to win tonight and hopefully on Saturday, to achieve our target of Europa League football next season.
While Mark Haughey returns to the squad tonight following suspension, several key players will miss out tonight due to suspension. Josh Robinson misses out one game, Mark Stafford faces a two game suspension, Robert Garrett is out for three games and Andrew Mitchell completes his three game ban tonight.
In addition to those absentees, we also have several players unavailable due to injury. Gareth Deane, Jamie Mulgrew, Jordan Stewart, Ryan Strain and Niall Quinn have been missing recently because of injury, although there is a chance that Niall could rejoin the squad tonight.
Injuries and suspensions are part and parcel of the game and they provide opportunities to young players progressing in our Swifts team and it's been great that we've been able to reward and encourage young Adam Carroll and Caomhan McGuinness with a place on the bench in recent games.
Congratulations to David Dorrian, his staff and players on their recent league title success with Linfield Swifts and hopefully, Linfield Rangers will have been able to retain the Youth cup trophy after their cup final here at Windsor Park against Cliftonville on Monday past. I also hope our Academy teams can win silverware in the various cup finals in Cookstown on Saturday.
In our final home programme of the season I just want to thank all our coaches and staff for all their hard work throughout what has been a challenging season but one we will have all learned from and we will come back stronger as a result, when we return for pre-season training in June.
I want to wish all our supporters an enjoyable summer break and I thank you for your loyalty. I hope we are all back here on Saturday and the players will need positive encouragement and backing tonight and hopefully on Saturday, if we are to achieve a hugely important target of ensuring we participate in Europa League football at the start of next season.