Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NOU SEASON ..SAME BLUES
Millar has a chuckle over comparisons with Barca as champs get off to flyer
KIRK MILLAR hopes Linfield’s version of ‘MSN’ is given licence to strike terror in Irish League defences this season.
One reporter drew chuckles at the weekend when he branded Blues forwards Millar, Paul Smyth and Jordan Stewart the “Messi, Suarez and Neymar of the Irish League”.
The diminutive forwards, who bring pace, tricks and guile to David Healy’s attack, have shone in the absence of injured striker Andy Waterworth who could be out until October.
And while Millar – who scored in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Carrick Rangers – laughed loudest at the Nou Camp comparison, he believes Linfield’s tiny trio are clicking as an attacking threat.
He said: “We’re maybe similar in stature but there’s obviously a lot more to their game than us! I can see where you’re coming from with the different things we bring to the team.
“The three of us work well and we have clicked in training. We all bring something different and it’s good for the team to have three different outlets.
“Pace is a big thing with Paul and Jordan, especially Paul. I’m there to try and get on the ball and make things happen, as is Jordan who has been a great addition.
“With Andy out, the three of us have got to mix it up and I thought
we clicked well against Carrick. We switched positions and they didn’t really know how to deal with it.”
Niall Quinn fired Linfield ahead on 16 minutes, before Millar doubled the lead from a Quinn cross before the break.
Summer signing Stewart spurned a golden chance to make if three when he saw a second half penalty saved by Harry Doherty.
“It’s a good start but we have a lot more to work on,” said Millar, who accepts Linfield are there to be shot at as defending champions.
“There’s always pressure when you play for Linfield but there’s extra pressure to try and go out there and do what we did last season and more. The gaffer puts that on us that we need to keep our standards even higher this year.”
While Linfield won a treble of league, Irish Cup and Co Antrim Shield last season, Millar endured a frustrating end to the campaign with just five starts after Christmas.
Most of his appearances came from the bench as the Blues went on an unbeaten run of 20 games between early January and May.
The former Oldham winger said: “I went through a rough patch and my performances weren’t the best.
“When you play for Linfield, you have to be on point the whole season. I’ve worked hard and I’m feeling good.”