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Callacher: Keeper is world class

LINFIELD defender Jimmy Callacher believes securing former Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll on a new deal may prove one of the biggest coups of the summer window.

Carroll, who turns 41 next month, signed up to a third year at Windsor Park when he put pen to paper on a new one year contract in May.

And the ex-northern Ireland stopper offered a reminder of his quality in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Glenavon on the opening day of the new

Danske Bank Premiership.

An assured presence as the

Lurgan Blues chased an equaliser, the veteran keeper produced a superb reflex save low to his right to deny Jordan

Jenkins in added time.

Callacher (inset) said: “The boys were thankful to Roy after the game. Glenavon created a few chances but when you’ve a world class goalkeeper, it helps you see out games.

“The save Roy made (to deny Jenkins) in the 91st minute, when he got down to his right, was superb. When he made that save, that’s when we knew we had the three points.”

Callacher suspects tying down Carroll, who helped the Blues to title success in 2017, to a new contract may prove just as vital to Linfield’s prospects as the club’s other summer business.

Northern Ireland defender Ryan Mcgivern, Joel Cooper, Dane Benny Moller Nielsen and Daniel Kearns, who scored the winner at Glenavon, have all joined the Blues in recent weeks.

“Roy’s a big, big part of what we’re trying to do here,” said Callacher. “We had the best defensive record in the league the year we won the title and Roy played most of those games, so we know how important he is.” Callacher is eager Linfield back up their opening day win at Glenavon with another three points at home to newly-promoted Institute tonight.

Stute got their own top flight campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over fellow promoted club Newry City at the Brandywell.

Callacher said: “It was all about putting points on the board at Glenavon, but it’s important we back it up against Institute.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to Windsor and playing in front of our fans again. Hopefully we can get another three points on the board.”

VITAL EXPERIENCE Roy Carroll is doing the business for Linfield – even at the age of 40 NEWRY CITY boss Darren Mullen doesn’t care if his top flight new boys are written off in this season’s Danske Bank Premiership.He doesn’t mind if City, who lost their opening day fixture against Institute at the Brandywell on Saturday, are put down as relegation candidates.Ahead of tonight’s home clash with Dungannon Swifts, Mullen (right) – who has led the border club to the promised land with four promotions in five years – said: “I have no issue with that.“Should it be the English Premiership, it’s always the newly promoted teams that are tipped to go back down again. I’m sure some people will have us in that boat.“But it’s up to us to rise to that challenge. It’ll be very difficult, but there’s no reason why we can’t go on and compete in this league.”