Meanwhile attention turns to Tuesday night's League Cup semi-finals
Cliftonville captain Jason McGuinness is facing a spell on the sidelines after being sent off in Saturday's 1-0 win against Portadown.
The defender was dismissed mid-way through the first half at Solitude, following a clash of heads with Ports player Garry Breen.
McGuinness is automatically suspended for this week's game at Carrick, but could be handed a longer ban.
The Dubliner is hoping to be available for the big Boxing Day derby against Crusaders.
Former Linfield striker Mark McAllister has been welcomed back into the fold at Portadown.
Axed from the squad in September by previous manager Pat McGibbon, he was handed a place in Niall Currie's first starting line-up at the weekend.
The Ports lost 1-0 at Cliftonville, but McAllister played the full match and his new boss was suitably impressed.
Meanwhile, veteran Ports keeper David Miskelly has announced he's retiring from football due to injury.
Linfield skipper Jamie Mulgrew has been named player of the month for November.
The midfielder put in another impressive shift as the Blues beat Ards 2-0 in Bangor on Saturday.
Defender Jimmy Callacher scored both goals.
David Healy's men stay second in the table, and Mulgrew says the title race is reaching a crucial stage.
Also on Saturday, Glentoran blew a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Ballymena United at the Oval - sub Johnny McMurray with the winner in added time.
Coleraine went down 1-0 away to Glenavon, and Dungannon beat visiting Carrick Rangers 3-1 with the Premiership's top scorer Andrew Mitchell getting his 14th league goal of the season for the Swifts.
Attention now turns to the Northern Ireland League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night.
Ballymena are at home to Coleraine while Glenavon face Carrick at Mourneview Park.