Platt delighted with Harkness signature

Platt was speaking after finally landing the former Linfield defender on a one-year deal last week.

“I’m very pleased to have him,” said Platt.

“He has a bit about him and went through an indifferent time at Linfield.

“He was fit for most of last season but with one thing or another he found that he was out of favour after coming back from injury.

“So he comes to us with the bit between his teeth and determined to prove people wrong.”

Platt is delighted that the 24-year-old Crumlin man, a former Northern Ireland youth international, will add further experience to his squad which has also been boosted by the capture of Aaron Black from Crusaders.

“He’s a very capable player and having met him a couple of times he’s a really nice lad, so all the signs are good.

“He played under Paul Merson at Walsall and was also at Kidderminster for a while.

“Johnny’s in very good physical shape so it’s a matter of just getting him some football after a stop-start time for him.

“He’s got a good left foot which will be very valuable to us in terms of set pieces and free kicks.”