RAINE MEN CAN BE REIGN MEN! Mcgonigle: It should come as no shock that we’re in the title mix

NORTHERN IRELAND under-21 striker Jamie Mcgonigle says it should come as no surprise that Coleraine have hit the ground running in the Premiership.

Oran Kearney’s men lie five points clear of Linfield at the summit heading into tomorrow’s eagerly awaited Showgrounds showdown with the Blues.

But while some eyebrows have been raised at the Bannsiders’ buoyant start, Mcgonigle believes the North West club’s renaissance dates back to January. And the stats back him up.

Dating back to a 2-0 win over Carrick on New Year’s Eve, Coleraine have won 18 and drawn five of their last 25 league games, taking 59 points from 75 in the process.

Mcgonigle said: “We’ve had a great start to this season, but you can’t say it wasn’t coming when you look at the second half of last season. We went on a 17 game unbeaten run after Christmas and we’ve only lost two league games this calendar year, which is a great record.

“It has been coming, but we can’t look too far ahead.

“We set targets in the changing room and we keep hitting them, but we can’t get complacent. We have to take it one game at a time.”

Mcgonigle believes tomorrow’s clash with Linfield, who lost 3-2 at Cliftonville in their last league outing a fortnight ago, is a chance to lay down a “marker”.

He said: “If we win we would go seven points clear of Linfield which would be a statement. At the same time, we know leagues aren’t won at this stage.

“They’re bound to want to get back on track in the league and they have the quality to pick you off, but we also want to make a mark so it should be a great game.”