Paddy McLaughlin backs his new striker to take the pressure off Michael McCrudden at Institute

Paddy McLaughlin has backed Darren Henderson to take the pressure off Michael McCrudden at Institute.

'Stute have taken seven points from their opening four league games so far this season, but no player other than McCrudden has scored. But after new arrival Henderson hit two goals in the 5-1 demolition of Loughgall at the Brandywell in the League Cup in midweek, McLaughlin believes his team now have an added threat.

“Darren Henderson is man that we know can score goals – if you get it to him, he’ll put it in the net for you. It’s good to see our front men all chipping in with goals, because we can’t rely on Michael McCrudden.”

Meanwhile, ‘Stute will be back in the Brandywell on Saturday afternoon when they get back to league action against a Dungannon Swifts team that are yet to pick up their first win of the season. With McLaughlin’s men unbeaten at the Lone Moor Road, he still believes it will be a tough test.

“It’s going to be tough. We set ourselves up at the start of the season knowing that all the games would be tough – that’s the reality of where we’re at, coming up from the Championship, but we’re more than prepared,” he insisted. “We worked our socks off in pre-season and until now, and we don’t expect anything other than a tough battle on Saturday."