Jim Ervin is back in the Linfield squad – even though it will be December before he will be seen in a blue shirt again.

There may be a first appearance for the Irish League champions for another defender though on Wednesday night.

Right-back Ervin is fighting his way to fitness after suffering cruciate ligament damage during a Big Two game back in April and this week he is continuing his rehabilitation at close quarters with the rest of his team-mates.

When the Windsor Park first-team headed off to Croatia yesterday morning – via Dublin and Munich – for the second-leg of their Champions League qualifying game against Dinamo Zagreb Ervin was among the party, with manager David Jeffrey being afforded the privilege of taking his full squad on the trip.

“It is good to be heading to Europe with the rest of the boys and the trip has been something for me to look forward to while I am out injured,” said Ervin.

“I am able to do more and more as the weeks go by and I should be able to do some jogging while I am in Croatia.

“It is nice to feel part of the squad again because being injured can be very lonely. I have spent a lot of time with the physio Terry Hayes so I will be glad to work with other people for a change.”

Ervin’s involvement in the European party isn’t exactly a new idea for the Blues. Last season when they headed to Sweden for the game with IF Elfsborg Linfield had long-term injury victims

Conor Downey and Oran Kearney with them as they took continued their road to recovery following cruciate ligament operations.

Kearney is in a similar situation this time as he left Belfast along with everyone else shortly after dawn yesterday, but he won’t be in the team tomorrow night.

He has picked up a groin injury in pre-season and will now aim to be fit for the start of the domestic campaign when the Blues start their defence of the title away to Lisburn Distillery on Saturday August 9.

There is one man who missed last Wednesday night’s 2-0 defeat in the first meeting of the sides who is hoping to figure tomorrow evening in Croatia’s national stadium.

Left-back Johnny Harkness signed-on at Windsor Park in the week leading up to the Irish Cup final in May and appeared in William Murphy’s testimonial a week later.

Injury delayed his scheduled debut last week, but he is closing in on a return to action.

“Everyone has travelled and squad wise we simply replace Peter Thompson with Glenn Ferguson,” said Jeffrey.

“I have spoken to Terry Hayes about the injury situation and he will be working with Johnny Harkness and giving him treatment in the hope that he will make it for Wednesday night.

“I will wait and see who is available before I pick the team. We have options and I am not sure yet if I will change things around or leave them the same as last Wednesday.”