BOXING DAY DERBY: LINFIELD V GLENTORAN

Linfield enjoy home advantage in the next round of Sports Direct Premiership fixtures and welcome Glenavon to Windsor Park on Saturday (3pm k.o. all-ticket).  

Glenavon have endured a difficult start to the new season and have lost all 7 of their league games. After finishing a disappointing 10th in last season’s table, manager Paddy McLaughlin embarked on a busy summer of transfer business, revamping his squad by signing a dozen new players, alongside a raft of departures from the club.

David Healy will demand a big response from his players following Tuesday’s disappointing 0-1 defeat to a resolute Ballymena United side at The Showgrounds. The Linfield manager will be wary of the threat posed by a Glenavon side looking to ignite their own league campaign.  

COYB!

By Ken Garrett.