Linfield boss David Healy believes new signing Eetu Vertainen can be a key component as his team chase down their fourth successive Premiership title.
The 23-year-old striker was handed his first start in last week’s hard-fought win over Portadown and Healy was suitably impressed.
Although it was Chris McKee’s goal which took the Blues back to the top of the table, Vertainen, who moved to Windsor Park on a loan basis from St Johnstone last month, showed glimpses of what the fans can expect in weeks to come.
“Eetu is a good player, technically he is very good,” said former Northern Ireland striker Healy. “He’s neat and tidy . . . he is probably lacking a little bit of confidence and real sharpness.
“But he’s a nice player and has played at good levels for Finland. In his time here, I’ve no doubt he’ll make a big contribution by putting in good performances and hopefully he’ll pop up with important goals in the league run-in.
“He’s certainly not afraid to pull the trigger as we seen last week, he was unfortunate to have a few decent efforts blocked.”
Vertainen is likely to be given a starting nod by Healy in tonight’s showdown with Carrick Rangers, where victory would take the Blues three points clear of Glentoran.
Healy added: “Games are going to become ugly as matches are chalked off and I would expect us to be in a dogfight at Carrick.
“The pitch in general is pretty tough to play on, so we need to find a way to win the game. you don’t always need to play, free, flowing attractive football. Even when we do that, we don’t get the plaudits . . . apparently, we grind out games because we are Linfield etc,etc...
“We are in and around where we need to be and want to be, but people are not talking about us in glowing references.
"They would rather praise certain other teams that are more glamorous or more attractive on the eye than what we are, it’s what I keep reading and hearing, anyway. We are having a bad season, but we are still top.
“If that’s going to be the case going forward, the players have been in and around the situation before, they know when the going gets tough the pressure is cranked up.
“This year is going to be hard because it a really tough run-in for every team. We know that we have a hell of a fight on. I’m certainly up for it along with the rest of the staff and the players.
"We are ready for the challenge ahead.”
Update: Friday's game between Carrick Rangers and Linfield has been postponed in line with the NI Football League's Covid Case Policy...
