Liam Burt is hoping to build on his eye-catching cameo display at Seaview last weekend with a spellbinding performance on Halloween night as Glentoran prepare to welcome Portadown to The BetMcLean Oval (Kick-off: 7.45pm).

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder made a major impact in Saturday’s dramatic 3–2 comeback win over Crusaders, injecting energy and creativity into the Glens’ attack as they overturned a 2–1 deficit late on.

Burt’s driving runs and clever passing helped stretch the Crusaders defence as David Fisher’s stoppage-time winner secured a memorable three points in north Belfast.

The Glasgow native, who joined Glentoran in the summer, is now pushing to be part of the starting line-up on Halloween night as the Glens look to make it three league wins in a row and maintain their unbeaten home record this season.

Liam Burt, said: “It was great to be able to come on and make a contribution last weekend. I love getting on the ball, driving at defenders and trying to make things happen. That’s my game. I trust myself with the ball and I back my ability to make an impact, whether I’m starting or coming off the bench. Hopefully I’ve done enough to earn a place in the starting eleven on Friday night because I feel sharp and ready. 

“Halloween night at The BetMcLean Oval is going to be a great occasion. If selected, I’ll be determined to find pockets of space on the bigger pitch, which will give me the chance to attack and be a creative outlet, whether that’s setting up guys like Jordan Jenkins and Pat Hoban or getting a shot off and hopefully breaking my duck for the Glens.”

Burt began his career in the youth systems of Rangers and Celtic before moving to the Republic of Ireland, where he became a standout performer for Bohemian with 62 appearances and 15 goals across two seasons. He went on to win league titles with both Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne, making 35 appearances in Shelbourne’s championship-winning campaign in 2024.

The former Scotland U21 international has quickly settled into life in East Belfast with his partner and six-month-old daughter Harper. Having undergone groin and hip surgery earlier in the year, he is still working towards peak match sharpness, but believes the best is yet to come.

Liam added: “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.

“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.

“I want to add goals and assists because that’s a big part of my game, but I also know the importance of the digging deep and getting stuck in. I’m not a luxury player. I’ll work hard, press, track back and do whatever is needed for the team. That’s the standards expected here and it’s the standards I expect of myself.”

Burt also spoke about the high-performance environment created by manager Declan Devine and his backroom team, highlighting the professionalism that continues to drive the squad forward.

The Scottish midfielder believes the depth and quality that Devine has added to the group this season has been a key factor in Glentoran’s strong start, while also acknowledging that several major absences during parts of the opening period of the season have largely gone under the radar.

Burt commented: “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. The standard in training every single day is top class. Everyone is pushing each other and the environment that Declan and his staff have created makes you a better player.

“Declan and the staff are brutally honest. If you are not at the standard required, they will tell you straight, but they are fair and they back you. We have set ourselves high standards as a squad and those standards have to be met every week with no excuses. 

“Declan’s recruitment has been excellent. He has brought in real quality throughout the squad, but what probably hasn’t been talked about enough is the players we’re currently missing. You look at lads like Jordan Stewart, Daniel Larmour, Danny Amos and Joe Thomson, who have all played this season but have been out for extended periods. Earlier in the campaign, both David Fisher and Ciaran Coll also spent time on the sidelines.”

“These are top-level players who would walk into most sides in this league. Any team would miss that kind of quality, but we have just got on with it and found ways to win games. That says a lot about the group we have here.”

Friday night’s visitors, Portadown, currently sit eighth in the table but have already shown they are capable of troubling the league’s top sides. A recent 2–0 victory over Linfield at Shamrock Park underlined their ability to deliver big performances.

Burt made his competitive Glentoran debut in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season, coming off the bench in the second half as the Glens ground out a 1–0 win at Shamrock Park thanks to a superb strike from Danny Amos. The Scottish playmaker admits Portadown were well organised that day and expects a similarly difficult challenge on Friday night.

Liam concluded: “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.”

Glentoran is offering a spooktacular matchday experience for young fans and their families this Halloween with a special family-friendly promotion at Friday night’s match against Portadown. All children of primary school age and under who arrive in fancy dress will receive free entry to the match and a Halloween party bag.

For Glentoran fans planning to attend Friday’s Sports Direct Premiership fixture against Portadown, match tickets are available to purchase at: www.glentoran.com/match-tickets-home-fans