Sport

Crues winger Whyte aims to stay focused

IN six months, Crusaders winger Gavin Whyte has gone from academy prospect to the Danske Bank Premiership's most precocious attacking talent.

Whyte has added a new dimension to Stephen Baxter's side and it's no surprise that his performances for the North Belfast club have attracted the interest of clubs in England and Scotland. The 19-year-old's feet, however, remain firmly planted on the ground.

"Stephen Baxter has been brilliant with me and I owe the manager everything for how this season has gone," said Whyte.

"He gave me a chance when I wasn't expecting it. It's great when a manager has faith in you. He talks to me in training, takes me aside and tells me what he likes about my play and what I need to improve on.

"He's done it all before as a player so it's advice I need to listen to. It's still new to me so I will just take each match as it comes. I don't want to be talking about Crusaders winning the League at this stage. I just need to keep working hard or it will all count for nothing."

Crusaders saw their lead at the top of the table trimmed to four points on Saturday when they were made to settle for a 1-1 draw against Dungannon Swifts side at Stangmore Park. It was the first points Crusaders have dropped since their League defeat to Portadown on December 6.

With city rivals Linfield beating Ballymena 2-1, the Crues were left to rue a series of missed chances, particularly when Ryan Harpur gave the home side the lead on 57 minutes. Paul Heatley levelled for the League leaders almost immediately but the Swifts weathered the storm to take home a share the spoils.

"It was a strange game from our perspective," said the tricky winger.

"We should have scored a couple of goals in the first 20 minutes. I know I should have scored twice in the first half. Stephen got us in at half-time and he was calm. He just told us to keep up the standard of football and the goals would come.

"And then straight after half-time, they get a deflected goal and you just think 'It's going to be one of those days', but fair play to Paul Heatley, he got us back level straight away but we should have had that game put to bed at half-time."

The Crues travel to Bangor on Saturday for their Irish Cup

sixth round clash before facing Warrenpoint Town on February 14. The Championship One outfit eliminated Baxter's side from the County Antrim Shield and the League Cup earlier in the season and Whyte has dispelled any notion that the team will be focusing solely on League games.

"We won't be prioritising League games over the Irish Cup, definitely not," he said.

"It's not in Stephen's nature to take the foot off the gas against any team. He wants to win every match.

"As players, we want to win the games too because we've seen what a winning mentality can do and where it can take us. Last weekend showed us that you have to be clinical in this League and you can't be complacent or teams will take points from you.

"We don't mind a run in the Cup either. Our squad is stronger this year and we can handle more games. Barry Molloy has come in to the centre of midfield in the last couple of games and he is top class. [Stephen] O'Flynn was a big signing too in January and I think we are in a position to really kick on. But there are so many tough games ahead for us."