Linfield chief David Healy has urged his team to finish 2024 on a high by taking three points from tonight’s crucial League clash with Larne at Windsor Park.

The Blues have not only opened up a 12-point lead at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership table, but they are a whopping 22 ahead of the current title holders.

Larne, however, have played six games less, because of their heavy involvement in the UEFA Conference League. They wrote their own little chapter in the history books by becoming the first Irish League side to qualify for the group stage of any European tournament.

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Although thy won only one of their six games – against crack Belgian side Gent – Larne's title defence has suffered. If they want to parade the Gibson Cup for the third successive year, they have it all to do at this stage.

It means tonight’s confrontation with Healy’s men is now a make-or-break scenario for Gary Haveron’s troops. Haveron, of course, recently replaced Nathan Rooney in the Larne hotseat after it emerged the newly appointed boss hadn’t the proper credentials to manage in Europe.

Linfield approach the game on the back on a hard-fought scoreless draw with Big Two rivals on Boxing Day, while Larne were disappointingly held to a similar result against lowly Carrick Rangers. Healy believes the Inver men with be coming to the international venue with a point to prove.

“We must embrace the challenge and try to finish the year on a high,” said the Linfield boss. “It will be a really tough game. We’ve already played them twice this season, it’s been one-nil either way.

“I don’t think there will be too much in the game, there never is. There is probably no better place for Larne to get their challenge back on track than coming to face us at Windsor Park, so we know what to expect.

“Any time we’ve played Larne over the past, two, three or four years, they’ve always been competitive. Obviously, they have a new man at the helm and will be determined to climb the table, but we will embrace the challenge.

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“Hopefully, we have a big home support that is always welcomed by the players. I think we have 11 home (League) games left before the split (when the League brakes into two halves), so it’s important we try to maximise our home support and raise the noise levels.

“I know the Festive period is a challenging time for every household in terms of financial commitment, but having the fans behind the players, the staff and myself is massive.”

Larne had three goals ruled out by referee Ian McNabb on Boxing Day, that left Haveron scratching his head in frustration.

“I thought we scored three perfectly good goals,” he claimed. “But it was two points dropped. We can’t afford to be dropping too many more points, especially at home, if we want to chase down Linfield in the new year.”

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