CIS LEAGUE CUP FINAL Live on Radio Ulster MW and updates on this website

Windsor Park
Tuesday, 9 November
Kick-off: 1945 GMT

Linfield's Phil Charnock is out of Tuesday night's CIS League Cup final against Glentoran at Windsor Park.

Charnock had a recurrence of a knee problem at the weekend and a specialist ruled him out of the crunch game.

''I visited a specialist in Wales on Monday, but the news was not as good as I had hoped for. It's all very disappointing,'' said Charnock.

Linfield boss David Jeffrey will call in James Bell and Barry Spence with Stuart King a likely starter.

''Losing Phil is a massive blow,'' said Jeffrey. ''I don't wish to harp on about the piling number of injuries.

''You can accept the usual niggles, knocks, and kicks, but the injuries this season are all really serious set-backs.''

Glentoran are already without Chris Walker, Tommy McCallion and Scott Young, but will go in as favourites against their cross-town rivals having put together an impressive start to their Irish Premier League campaign.

Roy Coyle's side have the league's top goalscorer in Michael Halliday who will hopefully lead the attack alongside former Windsor Park favourite Chris Morgan, who has also found his goal-scoring touch of late.

Halliday picked up a bang in the ankle at the weekend, but Glens captain Paul Leeman is hopeful that he will be ready.

It will be very tight. That is the tradition of the match Paul Leeman

''He didn't train last week, and his lack of full fitness caught up with him at Loughgall on Saturday,'' said Leeman.

''But I'm sure he will be fine and come in fresh and fit for the first final of the season.

''I don't believe there is such a thing as a clear favourite, or fancied side of any sort when it comes down to the ''Big Two'' match.

''The Blues have their player injury setbacks, and so have we. It is how you cope with the loss of experienced players.

''This happens, and that is why both clubs have good strong squads.

''But like every game between Glentoran and Linfield, it will be very tight. That is the tradition of the match.''