Kirk Millar says he is shocked David Healy hasn't been snapped up by a club across the water - but insists he is more than happy the former Northern Ireland striker is still at Linfield's helm.
Healy's stock is on the rise once again following Tuesday's tactical masterclass against Bodo Glimt. The Blues produced a monumental performance to record a famous European win at Windsor Park.
Millar was the hero, scoring a sublime 83rd-minute goal to send Windsor Park into raptures. It keeps alive hopes of progressing in the Champions League.
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Asked if he was surprised that Healy hadn't been headhunted by clubs in England and Scotland, Millar said: “Yes. He’s done an absolutely amazing job.
"There’s been a lot of talk about him going elsewhere and if he ever did go we’d be absolutely gutted. But it would be fully deserved when he does take a job elsewhere.
“But hopefully he stays here… for as long as I’m here anyway!"
Millar described Healy as a 'calming' influence inside Linfield's dressing room, "as long as he is happy".
"You don’t want to get on the wrong side of him, that’s for sure," Millar joked. "But we have a good group of lads and the manager always gets 100% out of them.
“He’s massive (for me), and all the boys. I’ve always got the backing of all the boys and that gives me the confidence I need.
“You’re always going to get it in football no matter where you are, people will always have opinions and rightly so. But as long as I have the backing of the boys and the manager and staff, I’ll go out there and give it my best."
Millar stunned Bodo Glimt with a sensational goal to earn Linfield their win. The winger dispossessed defender Marius Hoibratan before coolly lobbing Nikita Haikin from an acute angle.
The 30-year-old says 'time stood still' as he watched the ball suspended in the air before nestling in the back of the net.
“It felt like forever for it to go in. I’m just so happy it hit the back of the net," he added.
“The keeper stormed out at me so that kind of made my mind up for me. I’m glad it dropped though, because if it had gone over the bar I’d have been the worst in the world.
“The manager always says I never do anything the easy way. I’m always chopping back or taking another touch to try to score, but I’m just happy I’m off the mark early because I want to get more goals this season."
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