Glenavon travel to Bangor tonight to take on Ards, buoyed by the news that Warrenpoint Town striker Stephen Murray has joined the club.

The powerful forward has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Lurgan Blues.

Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton, speaking to the club website within half an hour of the transfer taking place, said he was delighted to get his man after having watched Warrenpoint over the last few weeks.

“With the bad weather forcing a number of our games being called off I’ve been lucky enough to see Warrenpoint in recent weeks and that has allowed me to see Stephen in action,” he said.

“A lot of what Warrenpoint did in those games was through Stephen. He’s got pace, power and at Glenavon we like players with energy so he will fit right in with what we are trying to do.

“I reckon he will make a big difference to our team as we have a small squad and this will give us a big lift.”

Murray won’t be available for Tuesday night’s game, but is eligible for Saturday’s Irish Cup game against Carrick Rangers.

Hamilton says it’s very much ‘as you were’ for Tuesday night.

“We’ll have the same squad available as Saturday except we won’t be playing Simon Kelly or Sammy Clinghan on the 3G pitch,” he said.

“Everyone else is fit for us with the exception of Andy Hall.”

Glenavon will be looking to bounce back from what was only a third away defeat of the season Saturday away to Ballymena United.

Ards, meanwhile, are unbeaten in four, having won two and drawn two in that time, most recently conceding a late leveller against Warrenpoint for a 3-3 stalemate.

FORM GUIDE:

ARDS: DWWDL

GLENAVON: LWWLW

HEAD TO HEAD

Ards 0-2 Glenavon

Ards 4-0 Glenavon

Glenavon 3-0 Ards

Ards 1-0 Glenavon

Ards 0-1 Glenavon