Mclaughlin calls for another big push ahead of Reds’ midweek rest

CLIFTONVILLE manager Paddy Mclaughlin is looking forward to a rare midweek break but insists that can wait until his side have taken on Linfield tomorrow.

While most clubs have had a game called off due to the weather, the Reds boss has led his tireless troops twice a week since January 26 — a run of 10 games in just five weeks.

That will become 11 in fiveand-a-half weeks when they travel to Windsor Park to face the Blues, and Mclaughlin admits that they’re long overdue a rest given they’ve played two more games than any other team in the Premiership, and in some cases as many as four.

“(My players) have proven over the last couple of weeks that they’re one of the fittest sides in the league, their energy levels are superb,” praised Mclaughlin.

“Next week we don’t play in midweek and they’ll be glad of the break in between because the two games a week have taken their toll. I know it’s the same for a lot of sides, but a few sides have had games called off in between due to conditions but we haven’t.

“We’ll be glad to get back to some kind of normality. It’s a lot of games played but the players deserve a breather, and we need it as the schedule is intense.”

Cliftonville currently trail Linfield by six points in the table having played two games more than David Healy’s men.

Mclaughlin added: “There’s never a good time to play a team with the quality of Linfield. They’re the champions for a reason, they know how to get themselves out of trouble.”

GLENAVON manager Gary Hamilton has signed a three-year extension to his contract.

The deal will keep Hamilton at the club until the end of the 2024-25 season.

The former Glentoran frontman, who will mark 10 years at the club later this year, said: “The one thing that I’ve had from the club is the massive support of the Chairman (Adrian Teer) and the board. They’ve always backed me and left me to my own devices whenever I’ve gone to sign a player.

“That’s all I can ever ask of them.

“Everybody, right down to the Academy, has bought in to what we have tried to do.

“That has been a big part of our success, particularly when you look at the players we have brought through.”