My boys have quality needed to finish the job in San Marino, maintains Healy
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Winger Stewart was released by League Two side Swindon Town after two years at the club and Glentoran supporters hoped he could spark a revival in east Belfast, but Linfield won his affections.
Despite his Glentoran heroics — including an Irish Cup success in 2015 — Stewart comes from a Linfield-supporting family and his late grandfather Phil Scott played for the Blues.
Scott plied his trade as an inside forward in the 1960s and early ‘70s. He won a league title with Distillery in 1963 and became a household figure with Linfield, where he scored 220 goals in 400 games.
Scott also scored twice in a 2-1 win against Ballymena United in the 1970 Irish Cup final, and remains Linfield’s joint top scorer in European competition with five goals.
The switch to Linfield was an opportunity for Stewart to kickstart his career after a move across the water failed to take off.
A dose of homesickness along with a knee injury curtailed his progress at Swindon but he is now hoping to enjoy his football again at Linfield under Healy and he’s certainly started with a bang.
“Jordan was desperate to get out there,” explained Healy.
“He lives around the corner and his grandad, the late Phil Scott, was a hero at this club.
“It also means a lot to a manager when a new player does something like that. It was great for him.
“He’s back (from England) with hunger and a bit of bite.
“It will probably take four or five games to get him up to full fitness.”
Although the Blues will take only a one-goal advantage with them to San Marino, Healy is confident his boys can finish the job on Tuesday.
“Ibelieveweareabetterteam and I think we proved that tonight,” he added.
“I believe we definitely have enough to get through.
“I knew what to expect from La Fiorita.
“They had quite a few good players. They have experience and a lot of players who would walk into Irish League sides, but we also have quality.
“Theplayersarewellawareof what’s at stake. They’d have to liveonthemoonnotto,butthey also know it is all about these two games.”
Healy, however, admitted his team did it the hard way after Aaron Burns fluffed his lines from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Gianluca Vivan had flattened Stephen Lowry with a ludicrously high challenge that certainly warranted a red card instead of yellow.
The Linfield chief agreed, stating: “In the Irish League you probably get away with that but not in European football.
“Ialwaysgobackto(Manchester United’s) Nani being sent off against Real Madrid in the Champions League and that totally changed that game.
“There was no need for the goalkeeper to put his foot up the way he did and in European football he probably should have been sent off.”