I may change winning team says Walker

Walker insists there is no guarantee that the same line-up which beat Portadown 3-1 will take to the field this Friday evening as United return to Mid-Ulster to face Glenavon at Mourneview Park (7.45pm).

"You've got to be brave enough to make changes according to the opposition and there are a couple of tweaks I will be looking at this week," Walker told Times Sport.

"It's a squad game, even during matches. Neither Richard Gibson nor Mark Surgenor would have been match-fit enough to complete 90 minutes at Portadown but both made significant contributions in the time they were on the field.

Walker is not daunted about the prospect of travelling to surprise Carling Premiership leaders Glenavon, insisting: "The expectation will be on them – we'll focus on ourselves."

This was initially due to be a home game for Ballymena but has been switched due to a Black Saturday demonstration at the Showgrounds, while Friday night was also ruled out due to a stock car meeting at the Warden Street venue.

Ballymena's suggestion of Thursday night fell foul of a new UEFA ruling prohibiting domestic matches on the same night as European fixtures (in this case, Europa League), leaving Friday night at Mourneview as the only option.

Seven Towers Supporters' Club transport leaves Henry Street car park at 6.30pm.

Walker will be without first choice goalkeeper Ryan Brown for a month after the summer signing sustained a hand fracture in training last week.

"It's the metacarpal, which is the equivalent to the metatarsal in the foot so hopefully Ryan will be back in four weeks – we're fortunate to have a more than capable replacement in Dwayne Nelson," added Walker, who hopes to complete the signing of former Bangor defender Chris Boyd as cover for the centre-back positions this week.

Former Northern Ireland striker Andy Smith may also come into contention for the trip to Mourneview Park if he has recovered from a hamstring/tendon strain.

United Reserves are at home to UUJ in the Steel & Sons CUp this Saturday, with a 3.30pm kick-off.