Austin to make return ahead of Blue Toon trip

JOHN POTTER is hopeful that the return to fitness of some of his key players can pave the way for a run of positive results.

The Kelty Hearts boss, who took his side to Linlithgow Rose for a friendly on Tuesday evening, is set to welcome striker Nathan Austin back to his squad for this weekend’s trip to Peterhead.

The 21-year-old, who scored 21 goals last term, has featured just four times this season so far, once in the league as a substitute at Clyde last month.

Although full back Reis Peggie, and centre back Tam O’Ware still may be another couple of weeks away from a return, Potter is delighted to see his injury list reducing.

“It’s always been three, four or five players. We’ve never had it down to these numbers, so it’s good,” he said this week.

“Obviously, there’s a few signings as well, so it adds competition. Having good players back fit is exactly what we need and, hopefully, it helps us get some results.

“I think if everybody’s fit, the squad we’ve got is good.”

Following the close of the transfer window, Potter has been able to bring in Jason Thomson and Nicky Low from Arbroath

– on permanent and loan deals respectively – but, prior, saw Thomas Reilly depart for Darvel, Brodie Strang go out on loan to former club Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts and Finn Robson cut short his temporary stint from Dundee United.

Clubs in League One can still bring players in on loan until the end of the month, as well as free agents, and, on the options he has, Potter continued: “I think if everybody’s fit, the squad we’ve got is good.

“Look, if something pops up, or something changes week-to-week, it can change pretty quickly. But, right now, with everybody fit, the squad’s looking strong.

“There’s competition for places but you never know what happens over the next few weeks – that’s coming in and going out. There might be one or two that want to go as well, or an opportunity might come for someone coming in, or someone might come in for one of our players. You can say you’re finished but you just don’t know until the last day. Something may pop up that you like.”

With games across the country called off on Saturday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the fixture card is set to resume this weekend, with second-bottom Kelty looking to move further away from bottom side Peterhead.

Following their first league win of the season last time out, at home to Falkirk, the New Central Park outfit are three points above their opponents and would move out of the bottom two with a victory, combined with FC Edinburgh taking at least a point at eighth-placed Queen of the South.

The manner in which Kelty, whose mixed side lost 1-0 at Linlithgow, defeated the Bairns is what Potter hopes to see his side replicate at Balmoor.

“We did a lot of good stuff in that game so it’s up to us to go and replicate it, and try and better it in some aspects as well,” he continued.

“If we do that, then I think we’ve got a good chance of winning the game.

“They (Peterhead) have still got good players. I know it’s probably similar to ourselves, trying to get enough players in the door, and they have found it difficult, but they’ve got an experienced manager (Jim McInally), they know the league well, have players that know the league well, and I’ve actually seen bits and pieces of their games. I think they’ve been unlucky in a few of their games, so it will be a difficult game, a difficult place to go, but we’ve got to go up and do what we do.

“Hopefully, it’s enough for us to get the three points.”