Linfield midfielder Kyle McClean says the Blues need to start spreading the goals around to ease the pressure on top scorer Christy Manzinga.
Manzinga, who fired home the winner in last week’s 1-0 win over Ballymena United, has contributed 15 of Linfield’s 41 goals in the Danske Bank Premiership this season.
The former Motherwell striker, who has pounced for 18 goals in all competitions, has bagged almost 40 percent of the Windsor Park club’s goals in the league.
And McClean is eager that more players start “chipping in” as David Healy’s men bid to stay at the top of the table heading into the business end of the season.
Asked if Linfield have been relying too much on Manzinga this season, McClean said: “I think so, to be brutally honest, and as a team we should probably chip in more.
“There’s no doubting how big a player Christy has been for us this season and hopefully he can get a few more for us.
“We’ve obviously had injuries up there and unfortunately Billy (Chadwick) had a bad injury and he’s no longer with us.
“But as a team we need to chip in more, whether that’s from set-pieces or from open play with midfielders getting into the box.
“We’ve brought in a couple of strikers (Chris McKee and Ethan Devine) and hopefully they can start notching a few as well to take the pressure off the big man.”
After struggling for game time and goals last season, Manzinga has emerged as a key player for Linfield in recent months.
The 26-year-old also appears to have revelled in being the ‘main man’ following the summer departures of Shayne Lavery to Blackpool and Andy Waterworth to Glenavon.
Lavery, who was named Irish League player of the year last season, and Waterworth scored 48 goals between them in all competitions last time out.
“Last season when Christy first came in, he was unlucky with injuries and suspensions, but you could always see the quality he had,” said McClean.
“He has obviously come in this season and with Shayne (Lavery) and Andy (Waterworth) leaving in the summer, he is the main man now and he’s had a good run.
“He’s a big boy, he’s quick and he has scored plenty of goals. He has all the attributes to be a real threat in the final third and he has shown that this season.”
Linfield lie level on points with Glentoran, who beat Crusaders 2-1 on Friday night, at the league summit ahead of Saturday's clash with Glenavon at Windsor Park.
Elsewhere, Coleraine will go in search of their first league win in nine weeks when they welcome Carrick Rangers to the Showgrounds.
Oran Kearney’s men, who lie sixth in the table, have taken just three points from their last seven Premiership outings dating back to a 3-1 win over Larne on November 19.
Basement club Warrenpoint Town travel to Ballymena United while Dungannon Swifts, who shocked Larne 1-0 at Inver Park last Saturday, host Portadown.
- SATURDAY FIXTURES (all 3pm): Ballymena United v Warrenpoint Town; Coleraine v Carrick Rangers; Dungannon Swifts v Portadown; Linfield v Glenavon.
