Livi deal cup blow for Lichties striker

Arbroath will be without Joel Nouble for tomorrow’s clash with Forfar because Livingston do not want their striker cup-tied.

Nouble will return to the Lions from his successful loan spell with Dick Campbell’s side in January.

And Livingston boss Davie Martindale wants the option of calling on the 25-year-old when the West Lothian side enter the Scottish Cup at the turn of the year.

The player has scored five goals and been credited with three assists since joining Campbell’s side on a season-long loan deal in July.

Nouble – who was named Championship player of the month for September – has also become a cult hero with the Arbroath fans in the short time he has been with the club.

But such has been the level of his performances that Martindale has made it clear the London-born player, who moved north of the border from Aldershot Town during the summer, will be recalled in the new year.

Meanwhile, hero Bobby Linn could return to the

Lichties starting XI for the cup clash.

Linn, who is in his testimonial year at the Gayfield club, hasn’t started a game since the 3-2 League Cup win over Kelty Hearts in July.

The 36-year-old has been limited to a number of cameo appearances from the bench, scoring just the one goal, a stunning longrange strike in the 4-2 win over Dunfermline.

Now, with Nouble and fellow forward Anton Dowds cup-tied, Linn looks set to be given a chance this weekend.

Campbell told Courier Sport that the Forfar game could be a chance for other players to stake a claim for a run in the team.

“Bobby Linn is high up on my thoughts to start on Saturday” he said.

“With Nouble and Dowds not in the team, this is a chance for two or three boys to make a stake for a place the week after.

“In training they have been excellent. Every player has been playing out of their skin.

“If they want to stake a starting place in the team, this is their chance to prove they are worth the jersey.”

Despite coming up against opposition from two leagues beneath them, Campbell is taking nothing for granted and his side is fully focused on beating their local rivals.

“It’s a local derby so it’s very important our players are up for it.

“It will be a no holds barred, blood and thunder game so we’ll have to be focused.

“Forfar are going very well and you have to respect the team you play but we’ll be well up for it being a local derby.

“I think we’re looking at 2,000 fans at the game. I’m getting excited about it already.

“We’ve got big games coming up against Raith and Partick but we are fully focused on the cup.”

Forfar boss Gary Irvine has revealed that club stalwart Michael Travis was “unlucky” to return from injury to find himself out of the squad.

Travis, who is the longestserving player at Station Park, has been sent out on loan to Lowland side Berwick Rangers until January.

The 28-year-old has returned from a serious knee injury but has struggled to find a place in the starting line-up due to the great form of defensive pairing Andy Munro and Steven Anderson.

Irvine said: “Michael worked really hard coming back from an ACL knee injury that ruled him out for a long time.

“He probably found himself unlucky to find that there are a good couple of players in that position now.

“Andy Munro and Stevie Anderson have struck up a good bit of form and are playing really well.

“Travis worked really hard to get himself back from injury and just felt he wanted to get himself out and get some game time under his belt.”

The South African-born defender will link up with Irvine’s predecessor at Forfar, Stuart Malcolm, who inquired about Travis.

“Berwick had got in touch and asked about his availability. It was something we discussed and thought it would be a good idea to go out and get some games till January,” he said

“It will benefit Travy, getting minutes under his belt and getting his fitness back up to where he wants it to be as well.”

SIDELINED: Livingston have told Arbroath they do not want loan striker Joel Nouble, left, playing for them in the cup.