Linfield’s David Healy relishing Europa League challenge with Floriana

The Europa League second-round qualifier behind closed doors at Windsor Park offers the immediate reward of another rapid boost on and off the pitch.

However, Healy is also aware of the gains outside of setting up a tie against either Estonia’s Flora Tallinn or KR Reykjavik of Iceland.

“There’s the incentive of the next tie but the incentive is there for the players to go and win one more game of football in Europe,” said Healy on the club’s official website. “You want to win games as it creates a good feeling, one of confidence in the dressing room.

“We don’t enjoy it (behind closed doors), we would prefer to have a vocal backing, especially at Windsor Park on European nights, so that will be missed.

“But we are excited and looking forward to it, it’s a good game for us, especially being at home.

“It feels like a lifetime since we last played a real meaningful game at Windsor.

“We’ve been preparing and had to tamper down training considering it’s been so long since the last real competitive game.

“But over the last while we’ve built ourselves back up so we are ready to go.

“We should be excited, if the players perform to the capabilities we know we can it’s a game we can win.

“But it’s also, if we go in with the wrong mentality or short on fitness or energy and attitude, with the players they have it’s a game we could end up losing.

“They are champions...they’ll be given every respect.”

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