DANNY BACK TO HIS BEST
Boss says fit-again striker can go on a goal spree
Livingston boss David Hopkin has backed a fully fit Danny Mullen to fire the team to glory this season.
The 21- year- old striker endured a frustrating injury-hit campaign last year – but the head coach insists the player looks back to his best as the Lions prepare to kick off their 2016-17 season with the visit of St Mirren in the Betfred League Cup on Saturday.
Mullen found the net three times before September last season but had to wait until the play-offs against Stranraer in May to net his fourth of the campaign due to a series of niggling injuries.
But the talented frontman impressed in the 1- 1 friendly draw against St Johnstone on Tuesday night despite missing a penalty, and former Scotland midfielder Hopkin hopes it is a sign of things to come.
He said: “Having Danny fully fit after last season is almost like a new signing. It’s huge for the club and it’s huge for him as well.
“He has all the ability in the world and I think against St Johnstone everybody could see that hasn’t gone.
“It would have reminded everybody of the Danny Mullen from a couple of years ago and hopefully that’s a sign of what we’ll get from him this season.
“I keep telling him to take a leaf out of Jordan White’s books. Jordan came to club, worked hard and was developed by all the staff and he’s since got himself a great move to Wrexham.”
Meanwhile, Hopkin says goalkeeper Liam Kelly will arrive on loan from Rangers to challenge for the number one slot.
Livi had been hoping the deal would be done in time to give the 20-year-old his debut in the friendly but the paperwork wasn’t processed in time.
Hopkin said: “The deal will happen. There’s just a couple of issues to sort out with paperwork but he’ll be coming to the club on loan.
“I’d like to have given him 45 minutes on Tuesday night but it wasn’t to be. He has been training with the club and is a very good goalkeeper.
“I’ve spoken with Darren Jamieson and told him that I’m looking for genuine competition in every position.”
The head coach said he’s looking to bring in a couple of new faces, with another striker being a priority – but he also stressed he’s happy to wait to make sure he gets the right players.
He said: “I’m looking for another pair to make us stronger and give us more depth but I’m not just going to bring in anyone.
“I’m looking at plenty of options and I need to make sure that the options I go with are the best ones for the football club. It’s still early and I’m not going to rush into making a signing for the sake of it.”
Livingston geared up for the visit of St Mirren in the League Cup opener with a solid draw against Premiership side St Johnstone.
The Lions go into the season having played three friendlies, with improvement visible in each contest.
A 5-1 drubbing against Dunfermline Athletic had left the impression there was plenty of work still to do, but that was followed up by a decent draw against Greenock Morton before a spirited display against the visitors from Perth on Tuesday night at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Livingston started brightly and squandered an opportunity to take the lead inside two minutes.
After a mix- up in the Saints defence, keeper Zander Clark’s clearance was hit straight at Nicky Cadden, but the winger hit his effort straight at the stopper.
The visitors took the lead on 10 minutes when Michael Coulson found himself unmarked near the penalty spot.
The former York City man duly slid the cutback into the bottom corner.
The Lions grew into the game and were awarded a penalty on 28 minutes when Danny Mullen’s jinking run was illegally brought to a halt by the Saints defence.
The striker dusted himself down but saw his effort saved as Clark dived low to his left and palmed the ball away with the Saints defence quickest to react to the rebound.
Two trialists, former Hearts and Kilmarnock wide man Dale Carrick and Slovenian striker Danijel Jurisic, who had a spell at Cowdenbeath two seasons ago, entered the fray at halftime for the hosts.
With less than 10 minutes gone, Alan Lithgow’s mistake led to St Johnstone being awarded a penalty of their own when the defender dragged down Graham Cummins, having misjudged the flight of the ball to allow the striker through on goal.
Darren Jamieson, as he has so often done, stopped the spot- kick and barely 60 seconds later Livingston were on level terms when Cadden rifled an effort into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
A plethora of substitutions from both sides somewhat ruined the final stages, as is often the way in pre-season friendlies.
Livi did have a wonderful chance to grab the win in the closing action when Jurisic’s darting run took him past three Saints defenders, only for him to drag his effort wide of the post.
It may only have been a draw, but an impressive performance gives hope for the season ahead.