Soccer

Cliftonville will play strongest team against Blues - Lyttle

Chris Curran is carrying a knee injury and is likely to miss Tuesday night's County Antrim Shield tie with Linfield
Chris Curran is carrying a knee injury and is likely to miss Tuesday night's County Antrim Shield tie with Linfield Chris Curran is carrying a knee injury and is likely to miss Tuesday night's County Antrim Shield tie with Linfield

Toal's Bookmakers County Antrim Shield quarter-final: Linfield v Cliftonville (Tuesday, Windsor Park, 7.45pm)

CLIFTONVILLE boss Gerard Lyttle says he has no intention of selling Reds fans short by playing a weakened team in Tuesday’s County Antrim Shield quarter-final against Linfield at Windsor Park.

The recently-installed manager will field his strongest available line-up, although Chris Curran is almost certain to miss the Shield clash due to a knee problem. Stevie Garrett is carrying a knock, but should be fit to face the Blues.

“I’m a believer in playing your best team,” said Lyttle.

“Obviously, you might have to tweak one or two positions, but it won’t be a weakened team. We’ll be playing our strongest team available. You have to remember there are a lot of supporters paying good money to go and watch us, so I wouldn’t want to sell them short.”

New attacker Paul George, formerly of Celtic, is still not eligible, but will come into the reckoning for Saturday’s home league game with Glenavon.

“Paul wasn’t registered in time for the Linfield game,” confirmed Lyttle.

“We missed the deadline by four minutes, but he will be available for Saturday. I rate him very, very highly. He’s been brilliant in training and he’s got that bit of quality about him. We’ve loads of options. The quality of the squad is frightening and everybody is chomping at the bit to be involved in this game.”

Since stepping in for Tommy Breslin last month, the Reds are still unbeaten under Lyttle.

“We’re not getting carried away. We’ll take it game-by-game, but we’ve got that winning mentality back and we’re playing with a bit of a swagger again,” he added.

Meanwhile, Carrick Rangers will fancy their chances of progressing to the semi-finals at home to H&W Welders, also on Tuesday. The Welders overcame Glentoran  on penalties in the last round and are top of the Championship One.

Elsewhere, Premiership champions Crusaders host Ballymena United, while Ards and Larne will battle it out for a semi-final berth.