Battle is on for starting places at Swifts

Jeanfield Swifts manager Ross Gunnion is urging his players to stake a claim for a starting spot in what will be an important month.

The Perth side welcome Hill of Beath to the Riverside on Saturday before a test against Bonnyrigg and then a Scottish Junior Cup clash with Beith.

Gunnion has options to choose from and is looking for his squad to rise to the challenge of facing some of the best teams in the junior set-up.

For now full attention is on Hill of Beath and the Swifts boss said:“Hill of Beath are a good team and one we’ve had mixed fortunes with over the last year.

“On their day they are capable of beating anyone but they do have the odd slip here and there and we need to ensure we stay in the game as long as possible and capitalise on any mistakes by them.

“It’s a case of starting afresh for most of the players as we’ve had a month off so there is a chance to stake a claim for a starting spot for this week and the Bonnyrigg game and Beith game.”

A lack of games in the month of December due to frozen pitches means there is a freshness about the Swifts squad.

But to keep match sharpness up a friendly was arranged with Logan McConachie’s Coupar Angus at Letham’s artificial surface on Tuesday night.

Swifts upped the tempo in the second half following a goalless opening 45 minutes to eventually run out comfortable 5-0 winners.

“We’re well rested that’s for sure with over a month without a game now,” Gunnion told the Perthshire Advertiser.

“But it has allowed a few players to recover from knocks and injuries.

“It has been difficult to get meaningful training on grass over the last month with the weather we’ve had so the team have had to make do with astroturf and indoor whenever possible combined with the odd fitness session here and there.

“Tuesday’s friendly against Coupar Angus was imperative to allow the players to get a feel for the ball again and get up to match speed.

“I think we saw the effects of the break in the first 30 minutes where we were sluggish and a yard or so off the pace.

“But as the game wore on players started to get sharper and hopefully that will stand us in good stead come Saturday.”