Cliftonville shore up defence with arrivals of Michael Newberry and Luke Conlan

The Reds raided rivals Linfield for Newberry, who moves across Belfast, while Portaferry native Conlan will play in his home country for the first time in his career after joining from AFC Fylde.

It is an early statement of intent from Magilton, who will be keen to kick on from ending their 45-year wait for an Irish Cup title by closing the gap to champions Larne, and he will hope his two new arrivals will boost a defence that conceded 43 goals in 38 games this season, tied for third in the Sports Direct Premiership.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne man Newberry, who joined Linfield in the winter of 2021 following a two-year stint with Icelandic outfit Víkingur Ólafsvík, won two League titles, the Irish Cup and two BetMcLean Cups during his time at Windsor Park.

The 26-year-old English-born star, who can operate both at centre-back and full-back, had previously represented Northern Ireland at youth level after rising through Newcastle United’s Academy ranks.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Conlan moves back home after 13 years in England and Scotland, starting his career with Burnley in 2011 on a scholarship deal before signing a professional deal at Turf Moor.

A former Northern Ireland Under-21 international, Conlan would fail to make a senior appearance for Burnley as an ill-timed knee injury halted his progression through the youth system, meaning he was limited to two loan spells with St Mirren and Morecambe while on the books of the Clarets.

The latter loan, however, would lead to a permanent move to the League Two side in 2016 and he would go on to make 141 appearances for the Shrimps before being released in 2020, whereupon he latched on with National League side Fylde.

Conlan would spend four years in the non-League system before being released at the end of this season, but will now hope to resurrect his career at Solitude with the high-flying Reds under Magilton.