Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

LINFIELD 2024 CUP FINAL SQUAD

Aodhan Doherty Midfielder

Joel Cooper Midfielder

Robbie McDaid Midfielder

Josh Archer Midfielder

Josh came up through the Linfield Academy system after spending some time at Ridgeway Rovers in his younger days. The 20-year-old scored on his first team debut for Linfield against PSNI, and his strike won a Linfield Goal of the Month award. He agreed a season-long loan deal with Portadown in August 2022. He featured regularly for the Ports before returning to Linfield in May 2023 and breaking into the first team.

Signed his first professional contract with the club earlier this year having come up through the Linfield Scholarship programme. The dangerous winger made his mark at Inver Park earlier this season with a crucial assist against Larne in extra time. He will be hoping he can play a starring role for the Blues in the future having featured regularly for Michael Gault's Swifts team.

Considered one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Irish League, Joel originally joined Linfield from Glenavon in June 2018 before securing a move to Oxford United in 2020. A former Northern Ireland U21 international, the 28-year old returned to Linfield in 2022 and has gone on to score more than 50 goals for the club.

Joined Linfield in July 2022 from Big Two rivals Glentoran on a free transfer. He played 40 matches for the Blues in his first season and scored nine goals but a devastating knee injury followed by an unfortunate achilles injury, which the 27-year-old picked up just as he was about to return to the side, has forced him to the sidelines for over a year.

Ethan Devine Forward

Matthew Fitzpatrick Forward

Rhys Annett Forward

Braiden Graham Forward

Chris McKee Forward

Joined from Glenavon in June 2023. He was Linfield's headline signing of the summer transfer window after a standout season with the Lurgan Blues; he scored 46 goals in 116 appearances during his time there. The centre forward (29) from Belfast made his Blues debut in the UEFA Conference League against KF Vllaznia and has gone on to score 10 goals in all competitions this season.

Rhys joined the Blues in January 2023 from Dundela and signed his first professional contract with Linfield last June. The 19-year old made his Northern Ireland Under-21 debut against Czechia earlier this year. Rhys has scored five goals this season, including a great strike in the League Cup decider.

The 21-year-old from Carrickfergus came up through the ranks of the Linfield Academy before joining Rangers in 2018. Chris returned from Glasgow to Linfield on loan in early 2022, with the move becoming permanent that summer. Chris is a Northern Ireland Under-21 international and agreed a new two-year contract with Linfield in April.

Joined the club in January 2022 from Championship side Knockbreda. Ethan scored on his Linfield debut in a 4-0 Irish Cup win over Oxford Sunnyside. He scored some vital goals in Linfield's 2021-2022 league title success, winning Linfield FC Young Player of the Year that season. The 23-year-old joined Dungannon Swifts on loan at the start of this season before returning to Belfast in January.

Braiden is the youngest player ever to play for Linfield’s first team. Now 16, he was just 15 years and 137 days old when he achieved that feat. A lifelong Linfield supporter and Academy player, he scored a crucial goal in the League Cup quarter final win over Larne this season; the Blues went on to lift the trophy. Braiden has featured regularly for the first team since and is a Northern Ireland U17 international. Remember the name.

32

www.irishfa.com