WARRENPOINT Town assistant manager Harry Fay has lauded the impact of on-loan striker Ciaran O'Connor as the Milltown men head to Windsor Park this afternoon aiming to spoil Warren Feeney's home debut as Blues manager.
Barry Gray's side are still rooted to the bottom of the table but they're showing signs of turning their season around having beaten Dungannon Swifts and drawing with champions Cliftonville in their last two games.
Although Warrenpoint have been deprived of their top marksman Daniel Hughes (knee injury) over the last couple of weeks, O'Connor's arrival has bolstered their attack.
"He's done well," acknowledged Fay. "He's young but he's had a good schooling down in Dundalk under Stephen Kenny.
"To be honest, I was torturing Stephen for a while about taking O'Connor out on loan.
"I know Stephen from doing the pro-licence [coaching course] together and we've built up a bit of a relationship. He tortured me to get Niall McGinn up to Derry when he was manager, so he owed me one."
Fay is hoping the Warrenpoint players embrace the occasion of playing the Blues at Windsor Park today.
"You have to instil that in the players. The games you look forward to are the games you look back on. That's why it's important to do yourself justice.
"The big thing is Warren Feeney has a big pick. Given time, I've no doubt he'll do a good job at Linfield.
"But I'm more concerned about us; we need to build on what we've done over the last couple of weeks."
Meanwhile, Feeney says he will put emotion to one side as he leads Linfield out at Windsor Park for the first time this season.
The Blues were forced to play their first few games of the new season away from home as major renovation work continues at the south Belfast stadium.
"It'll be fantastic walking out as manager and a proud moment but I won't let any of that take over my mind," said Feeney.
"Yes, I'm a Linfield supporter - everyone knows that - but I've got to put my game mind on. Because you're at home doesn't mean you're going to win matches."