Linfield maestro Joel Cooper returns to duty at The Oval on St Stephen’s Day after serving a one-match suspension.
The 28-year-old has been in the news despite missing Linfield’s 1-0 win over Glenavon at Windsor Park on Saturday following reports of a possible switch to Coleraine next year.
The former Northern Ireland international has been a star player for the Blues this season as they lead the charge in the Sports Direct Premiership, having scored 11 goals so far this season.
The reported five-year deal for Cooper, with a lucrative salary, was too good to turn down and comes as a blow to Linfield.
His sparkle was missed against Glenavon on Saturday, when Chris McKee scored the only goal of a lacklustre win for the Blues on home turf.
The win gave David Healy’s team a 13-point lead at the top of the table but there is more at stake on Thursday than three points.
Cooper is the only Linfield player to have scored against the Glens this season, an eighth minute opener at Windsor Park in October.
However, Glentoran came back to win that game 3-1, and have won both encounters since, 1-0 on both occasions.
The Glens will be buoyed not only by the three wins over their fiercest rivals but also by the fact that they have won their last three games in a row.
Saturday’s 2-1 win over Cliftonville included an equaliser from Glens ‘keeper Daniel Gyollai.
Healy admits his team’s performance must improve on Boxing Day if Linfield want to come away from East Belfast with a win.
“We look forward to it”, said the Linfield manager.
“The Oval is a special place, certainly in terms of Boxing Day games going back twenty or thirty years ago when they used to get crowds of 12-, 14-, 15,000 in, when I used to go myself.
“It has changed a little bit but we’ll have a big crowd there and we will certainly want to be – and need to be – better than we were on Saturday.
“Sometimes on Boxing Day it can be a little bit chaotic on and off the pitch due to the intensity of the game and I expect more of the same on Thursday.
“We’ll be prepared. The boys were off yesterday but they’re in today for a full week.”
Healy will have more striking options now that striker Robbie McDaid has returned to duty after a torrid two years away from the game through injury.
The Linfield boss admitted his delight at seeing McDaid return to action on Saturday as he gave an update on potential injuries.
“I’m so pleased for Robbie to be back and I think he was really pleased to get the first game out of the way.
“First and foremost, Robbie is an incredible human being, and the disappointments and the suffering he has had to endure over the last couple of years have been astronomical.
“Euan East missed the game on Saturday and is doubtful, and we’ll have to check on Ben Hall and Stevie Fallon, who came off on Saturday.”