JORDAN COULD BE A BINOS STAR
Mackay rates the future of Albion’s first summer signing
Stirling Albion manager Dave Mackay believes left-back Jordan Allan could be a key player this season following his summer switch from Elgin City.
The 23 year-old was Mackay’s first signing of the summer after he left the Borough Briggs outfit.
Allan began his career as a youngster with Dundee United and has also played for Montrose, Selkirk, Morton, Derry City and Coleraine and only missed only a couple of games for Elgin last season, weighing in with five goals – two them coming against the Binos.
The Binos boss said: “Jordan will be a big player for us. He’s got pace and strength and uses the ball well. I’m expecting a big season from him and he’ll get better.
“He still has to learn a lot because he hasn’t played in that position an awful lot in his career but he has shown good signs and he likes a tackle.
“He’s like that in training – it’s straight out of the Willie Robertson book. He just goes 100 per cent whether it’s a five a-sidegame in training or a competitive match and I like that attitude.”
He added: “Last season Steven Noble didn’t get a good run because of injuries. Ewan McNeil had to fill in at left-back and did a decent enough job but it’s not ideal having a right-footed player playing there and I know that from having done it myself.”
Allan will be on the team sheet tomorrow (Saturday) when Albion complete their Betfred Cup Group D campaign at East End Park against Dunfermline Athletic.
Allan Johnston’s side hammered Brechin City 7-1 at Glebe Park on Wednesday night and need a point to be certain of topping the section but, with nine points and a healthy goal difference, the Pars look almost certain to be in Sunday’s draw for the last 16.
The eight group winners and four best runners-up progress to the last 16, where they will be joined by European entrants Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibernian.
Stirling drew 1-1 on their last visit to Dunfermline in March 2015 and head for Fife on the back of a 2-0 win at Peterhead last weekend but it would be a major upset if they denied the home side.
The Binos will again be without Darren Barr, Darren Smith and Lee Hamilton but Kevin Moon could return, although he is suspended for the Ladbrokes League 2 opener at Berwick.
Before netting seven goals at Brechin in midweek, the Championship side beat Peterhead 3-0 at East End Park and Dundee 1-0 at Dens Park.
Mackay said: “It will be a tough test against Dunfermline because they are a good attacking team but we’ll go and do our best. We know we can’t progress in the cup but we’ll have a go and work on things for the Berwick game.
“We played well at Peterhead last week, especially when you consider that we only had 11 fit first-team players.
He added: “We went with a back four against Peterhead because we felt that was the best thing for that game. We have shown in pre-season that we can mix it up a little bit whereas last year any time we did try and change things we never looked settled so it’s good to have a few options.”
The referee for tomorrow’s game is Mike Roncone and kick-off is the usual 3pm. Admission has been pegged at £10 for adults and £5 concessions.