Tiernan Lynch keen not to add more pressure on striker with a 'very bright future'

Photo shows Larne manager Tiernan Lynch
-Credit: (Image: INPHO/Stephen Hamilton)


Tiernan Lynch believes striker Matty Lusty has a "very bright future" ahead of him, but the Larne boss is keen not to put too much pressure on the exciting young prospect.

After impressing on loan at Dungannon Swifts last season the 21-year-old has hit the ground running on his return to Inver Park. Lynch has shown his faith in Lusty following the departure of Lee Bonis to ADO Den Haag.

And Lusty has repaid that faith with big goals in Europe and domestically, including the second in the 2-0 win over Glentoran last Friday night. Initial signs suggest he is forging an exciting partnership with Andy Ryan but Lynch isn't getting too carried away just yet.

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"It's probably going to take a bit of time," said the Larne boss. "Lee and Andy were as good as it got during their time together. Over the two years together they got to really know each other inside out and complemented each other.

"These two will maybe just take a bit of time to really get to understand each other and their runs and movement. Matty is still young and a bit naive so there's lots of work still to be done. The kid is very talented. It's important we don't put too much pressure on him and big him up so he doesn't enjoy doing what he does.

"Putting too much pressure on him is not how we're going to get the best out of him. He has a very bright future ahead of him but he still has a lot to do. He just needs to keep his feet firmly on the ground."

Larne are back in action again this evening as Loughgall visit Inver Park. It's a third game in seven days for the defending champions with a trip to Cliftonville coming up on Friday, Lynch insists they have to embrace their packed schedule with their UEFA Conference League group games starting next week.

"We normally like to do a lot of work in our four-day lead into a game," he explained. We're very structured in what we do in our approach to games but that's becoming very difficult.

"We're probably doing less on the pitch now and more in the analysis. I think players would rather be on the pitch, and I know as coaches we'd rather be on the grass too, but these are the challenges we have to embrace. We don't have a big squad but there is a lot of quality so we should be able to make changes without diminishing it too much.

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"It's a massive demand but we can't cry or complain about it. We have to try to embrace it and enjoy it. There are going to be good days and bad days, it's about taking the rough with the smooth. It's a learning curve for us but I'm confident we'll be OK."

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