Declan Devinie’s side play Portadown on Friday night as they try to keep pace at the top of the Irish Premiership
Liam Burt says he knows what a title-winning outfit looks like – and the Scot reckons Glentoran have the right stuff to gun for Gibson Cup glory. Burt began his career in the youth systems of Rangers and Celtic before moving to Dublin, where he became a standout performer for Bohemians before winning league titles with both Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne.
The former Scotland U21 international had groin and hip surgery earlier in the year and is still working towards peak match sharpness, but believes the best is yet to come He said: “I’ve been fortunate to play for some massive clubs and to be part of title-winning teams in Dublin. I know what it takes to be successful and I’ve come to Glentoran because I can see the same ambition here. Everything about the club, from the standards in training to the set-up off the pitch, tells me this is a place that’s serious about winning trophies.
“We’ve got a brilliant mix in the dressing room with experienced pros who have played at the top level and younger lads who are hungry to prove themselves. That is exactly what you want in a squad that is serious about competing for trophies.
“My family is settled and I’m enjoying my football. I feel like I’ve made a really positive start, but I’ve still got so much more to offer. I missed part of pre-season after my operation, so I know I’m still building towards my maximum fitness levels. The fans have only seen glimpses of what I can do so far and I’m determined to keep improving and make a real impact for this team.”
The Glens put their unbeaten home record on the line against Portadown on Friday night (7.45pm)and Burt is expecting a real battle.
He said: “Portadown will be a tough opponent. They’ve already shown they can take points off big teams, so we know exactly what to expect. They’ll come here looking to win the match. They’ll be organised, they’ll try to make it difficult for us and in Eamon Fyfe they’ve got someone who can grab a goal.
“For us, it’s about setting the tone early, playing our football and making sure The BetMcLean Oval remains a difficult place for any team to come.
“We’ve got real quality in this squad and if we hit our levels, we’ll give ourselves the best chance of getting the result we want.”
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