LOONS BOSS FACES EARLY CHALLENGE

New Forfar boss Ray Mckinnon is set for another stiff test early in his reign as Loons boss with a trip to East End Park this afternoon.

The clash marks the first meeting of the sides in the competition for 30 years when Forfar went down 3-1 in the replay at East End Park having drawn 0-0 in the first game, and the first competitive meeting since 2016.

Mckinnon said: “It’s going to be a real challenge, but we are going to go and enjoy it.

“We will go and try to win the game like we will do in every single game this season.

“We have analysed what their strengths are and maybe set the team up differently as we have done over the last couple of weeks, but it is another opportunity to win a game so we will be looking forward to it.”

Forfar defender Darren Whyte could return to the starting 11 for the trip to Fife after making his comeback from injury, while the game looks to come just too soon for Callum Moore despite his return to training.

Kyle Hutton is available despite his red card at Dumbarton last weekend, with the midfielder set to miss next weekend’s game alongside defender Roberto Nditi.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen defender

Jack Mackenzie missed out on a dream loan move to Atlanta United two years ago – but the full-back thinks his loan at Forfar was the making of him.

Mackenzie was all set on a loan move to the United States in 2020 before Covid scuppered the proposed trip.

He instead spent the second half of the 2020-21 season on loan with the Loons.

The full-back believes the move was pivotal in his early development.

He said: “I was only at Forfar for 15 games, but I’d say it is probably the 15 most important games I’ve ever played.

“I learned so much there. We were struggling, bottom of the league, it was a scrap playing part-time football with players who work 9-5 then come to training. It was a real eye-opener for me and it has stood me in good stead.

“Going into training at night with boys who have been on a building site for 10 hours shows how lucky you have it.”