Sykes will make his mark in England, insists Baxter
CRUSADERS boss Stephen Baxter believes his team will come up against the best player in Irish League football when they host table-topping Glenavon in a mouthwatering league encounter today.
Baxter is so impressed by midfielder Mark Sykes that he is certain he will follow the likes of Paul Smyth and Gavin Whyte into the English game.
“If you look at the league over the past three or four years in Northern Ireland, Paul Smyth at Linfield was the best player and got a move to QPR, then Gavin Whyte with us was the best player and joined Oxford and young Mark Sykes is now the best player and he will go across the water,” stated Baxter.
“That says a lot about our league and it is great that we are developing players who are mature and can move to England and step straight into teams.
“Sykes excites me as a player and when you have someone of that magnitude in your team you’ll always have a chance.”
Sykes netted a spectacular overhead kick when Glenavon came from behind at Mourneview Park in September to defeat the Crues 3-2. Joshua Daniels netted a breathtaking winner that day and Baxter is well aware the Lurgan Blues are not a one man band.
“They have many other great players in their side and are a good balanced team,” said the Seaview boss.
“Glenavon are a team that play on the front foot and play on the edge and drive at you.
“They are a really good side and it will be a tough test for us. They are sitting top of the table for a reason.
“They have quality players and we know it is a big game.
“The matches with us against Glenavon, Linfield and Coleraine have been ding-dong games and I don’t see anything other than that this time.
“We know their strengths and they know ours and we’ll be ready to play them I can as- sure you of that. The game that we played against them at Mourneview earlier in the season was the best game of football I’ve seen in Irish League football in four or five years.
“It was a stunning match capped by a sensational winning goal by Josh Daniels.
“When we went 2-1 up in that game I thought we would go on and win by three or four but they came back with two stunning goals to win it.”
While Crusaders have won their last three fixtures, Glenavon lost at Ballymena and drew at home to Warrenpoint in their previous two outings after winning a remarkable 10 out of 11 Danske Bank Premiership matches prior to that.
“You get momentum and Glenavon were carrying a load of it and then sometimes you come off it a little bit,” said Baxter, who has inspired his team to three titles in four campaigns.
“I remember our start last season when everybody was expecting us to run away with it and then we drew with Ards and drew with Dungannon at home and everyone was going what’s happening to Crusaders?
“Those results can happen because teams in this league are very capable, be it Warrenpoint, Newry or whoever, they will all give you a real run for your money.”
Another cracker is anticipated this afternoon.
Crusaders made six changes on Tuesday in their 4-2 Bet McLean League Cup victory over Glentoran and even had the luxury of bringing Paul Heatley off the bench late on to score a goal after his searing pace took him clear.
“Paul wasn’t second or third favourite to get the ball that led to him scoring… he was fifth favourite, but that’s the mark of him as a player,” added Baxter.
“It’s pleasing because he hasn’t been firing on all cylinders but goals like that boost confidence.
“From my point of view we are training five times per week now and you are looking at players like David Cushley and Philip Lowry who have not been playing and they are top professionals who need to play some football and I need to get them match fit.
“We will be stretched as the season progresses and you need guys up to speed.
“It was good to get them playing and also to get fresh legs in there.”