Linfield boss David Healy insists Robbie McDaid’s preference to play as a central striker wasn’t part of contract talks ahead of luring the Glentoran striker to Windsor Park.
McDaid, who joined the reigning champions last week after opting against a new contract at the BetMcLean Oval, played mostly in wide areas at his former club last season.
But while Healy has recruited the 25-year-old as a centre forward, he believes his summer signing is versatile enough to feature in "one, two or three" different attacking roles for the Blues.
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“I spoke to Robbie but nothing is ever set in stone,” he said. “I’ve read in articles when he was at his previous club that his preferred position was to play through the middle.
“He will want to play through the middle and we have signed him as a centre forward, but he is also capable of playing in one, two or three different positions. We can’t and I can’t, as a manager and coach, limit myself in terms of the formation we play to suit any signed player.
“We have players in our dressing room who have a preferred position, but they may have to play in a different position if it helps the team. Robbie will be no different.”
McDaid, who scored 71 goals in 177 games for the Glens, started as a centre forward in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Scottish Premier League club St Mirren.
Asked what qualities the former Leeds United youngster will bring to Linfield next season, Healy said: “Robbie brings you energy and he’ll get you goals.
“If he’s in the right place at the right time, he will get us goals. I don’t want to add pressure in terms of numbers or what (goals) he’s going to get. But technically he’s very good and if he’s fit and healthy for the majority of the season, I’ve no doubt he will score goals for us.”
Linfield, who face The New Saints of Wales in the first qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday, went 1-0 down to an Alex Greive goal at Windsor.
But raiding full-back Daniel Finlayson, on a season long loan from the Saints, helped pull one back for the Blues after good work from Joel Cooper.
Jonah Ayunga, a summer signing from Morecambe, won it for the visitors with a vicious finish eight minutes before the half-time break.
“We wanted to get minutes into the legs of some players and have a look against a good, strong St Mirren side and I think we got that,” said Healy.
“When there’s a raft of changes at half time, it can become a bit dour and again that’s maybe what we got in the second half.
“But overall we came out of the game without injuries and we have a full panel to select from ahead of playing TNS on Tuesday.”
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