David Healy is backing Linfield’s new signings to hit the ground running as the Belfast club prepares to kick off its Champions League campaign in neutral Switzerland.
The Blues are back in action on Saturday afternoon in a four team mini tournament which is being played at the Colovray Sports Centre located near UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon.
The winners of today’s clash with Tre Fiori of San Marino will progress to face Drita (Kosova) or Inter Escaldes (Andorra) in Tuesday’s final with a place in the next round at stake.
“If we perform to the peak of our ability and the level I know we can do, hopefully we can win and progress to Tuesday’s final,” said Healy.
A crucial four days lie in story for the Irish League champions who flew to Switzerland yesterday with four high profile new arrivals on board.
Former Coleraine keeper Chris Johns is set to make his debut, while French striker Christy Manzinga, who spent last season at Motherwell, is also hoping to feature.
Add in Navid Nasseri and Conor Pepper, who swapped rivals Glentoran for Windsor Park last Saturday, and Healy has a number of selection dilemmas to wrestle with.
“Everyone is available and the new signings will all travel,” said Healy. “Whether we play them in such a big game in such a short space of time will be decided.
“But they’ve come in and apart from Christy we’ve played against them in the Irish League before so we know what their qualities and what they’re capable of.
“All the boys have been a credit since they came in and if - or when - they play, I’ve absolutely no doubt they’ll be focused and ready to perform.”
Linfield, who were awarded the title in June after a mathematical model determined the final league placings, last played a competitive fixture 155 days ago on March 7.
But Healy is confident his players will be up to speed after playing recent warm-up friendlies against Bohemians (3-0), Shelbourne (1-0), Portadown (3-3) and Dundalk (1-0).
“You can’t take too much out of pre-season games results wise, but the games we have played have been good for us,” he said.
“We’ve had some good performances and decent results, but most importantly we came through them with a 90 to 95 per cent fit squad.”
Healy admits it has been tough scouting Tre Fiori who were recently awarded the title in San Marino after the 2019/20 season was abandoned due to Covid-19.
“We have sourced some footage which admittedly can be a bit sketchy,” he said. “In a normal European scenario you can also have a good look in the first leg and adjust.
“The fact this is a one-off tie and not a two legged affair doesn’t afford us that luxury so it will be a challenge but the incentive is there to progress.”
