Andy Waterworth believes young Linfield striker Ethan Devine is one of the most exciting goal scoring talents to emerge in the Irish League in recent years.
Devine pounced for the winner in a dramatic 2-1 aggregate victory over TNS in Wednesday night’s Champions League first qualifying round showdown at Windsor Park.
Skipper Jamie Mulgrew arrowed home a stunning 94th minute goal to level the tie on aggregate before fellow substitute Devine won it with a close range finish five minutes into extra-time.
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It was the latest highlight for the imposing 21-year-old who joined the Blues in January and scored a string of crucial goals for the club en route to league title glory in April.
Linfield striker Waterworth, on punditry duty for the club’s live stream of the game, said: “Ethan is one of the best young strikers to emerge here and I’m excited to see where his career takes him.
“He has impressed me so much since he came to Linfield in January. I enjoy watching him play, I love his honesty as a player and his desire to score goals.
“I also enjoy the ability he has as a centre-forward in terms of his timing and willingness to make runs across the front of defenders. He has really impressed me.”
The dramatic 2-0 victory in Belfast secured a 2-1 aggregate win and progress to the second qualifying round of the Champions League where Norwegian champions Bodo Glimt lie in wait.
Bodo Glimt, who overcame Klaksvikar of the Faroes 4-3 on aggregate in the first qualifying round, defeated Celtic 5-1 over two legs in the Europa Conference League last season.
“The first 70 minutes were frustrating for Linfield, but what a result,” said Waterworth. “Big occasions need big moments and we got two big moments from Jamie and Ethan.
“TNS might feel a bit unlucky to concede an equaliser at the death but football is a 90-plus minute game and you have to play to the end. It was a special result.
“Linfield should be kicking on in Europe and I hope they do that this season, whether it’s in the Champions League or Europa Conference League.”
Waterworth scored 190 goals in 350 games for Linfield and helped the Big Two giants win four league titles and an array of other trophies in his eight years at Windsor Park.
The 36-year-old, who spent last season with Glenavon, recently confirmed he was hanging up his boots to focus on his role as head of the Irish FA’s JD Academy.
Devine has scored six goals in 17 appearances, mostly off the bench, for Linfield since joining the club from Knockbreda in January and was rewarded with a contract extension until 2025 earlier this summer.
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