Ahead of the January transfer window opening, Linfield boss David Healy admits his squad is light in numbers

David Healy is set to be busy in the January transfer window

Linfield boss David Healy admits he be working overtime in the January transfer window.

The former Northern International striker is expected to beef up his squad in the bid to lure the Sports Direct Premiership title away from Larne and bring it back to Windsor Park this season.

Although the Blues have so far managed to hold off the chasing pack at the top of the table after 16 games, shrewd Healy has cleverly negotiated a few difficult hurdles along the way.

Not only did he lose the services of Robbie McDaid, Jordan Stewart and Stevie Fallon on a long-term basis because of injury, new summer signings Jack Scott and John Robertson made a surprise early exit.

Little wonder Healy can’t wait for the shutters to come up on the January window.

“We are light in numbers and that’s no disrespect to some of the younger lads we have in the squad,” said Healy. “For me, there needs to be a realisation.

“When the time is right, that’s when we should introduce some of the younger players, but our hand is being forced because the squad is light.

“Hopefully, we can get one or two (players) in the door sooner rather than later and one or two of the injured lads back on the training pitch again and have them available for selection.

“One positive note, which I emphasised to the players is the fact that we are now in mid-November. We’ve played basically half of the games (16), before we go into the split.

“We have a small advantage at the top of the table. If any club had been offered that at the start of the season, sitting at the top of the table in mid-November, you would have taken that. So, I must take the positives from that.”

Although the Blues fell to their third defeat