Rutherglen Glencairn co-boss Joe Pryce expects to boost his squad by at least one player this week as he prepares for their West of Scotland First Division title bid.
Pryce hopes to have another player in before their league campaign resumes against Blantyre Vics on January 11, and in the meantime will keep his squad ticking over with a bounce game against Lanark United on Saturday.
Glencairn are currently third in the table after 14 games on 26 points, four behind leaders St Roch’s with two games in hand, and three points off Arthurlie in second, who have played two fewer times.
Pryce is keen to bring in more players to boost their position, but has lost midfielder Lewis McTaggart, whose loan spell from St Cadoc’s has ended.
Pryce said: “We had one in and he has actually not signed yet, because his wife gave birth, but that will be tied up this week.
“We’re hoping to get another one in before the Vics game, but we’ll see how that goes.
“Lewis McTaggart’s loan has finished, so he’s away back to St Cadoc’s and we thank them for loaning him out to us.
“We only managed to get five games off him in the time he was here, but he scored four times and made a contribution to us, so we wish him all the best back at St Cadoc’s.”
Glencairn drew 3-3 against Premier Division side Pollok in a public friendly on Saturday at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium, and Pryce was pleased with the exercise.
McTaggart put Glens ahead in 12 minutes, but Stephen Docherty levelled for Pollok in 39 minutes.
A penalty allowed Luke Main to put the visitors ahead nine minutes after the interval, and Docherty scored his second and Pollok’s third 60 seconds later.
However, Ryan McManus came up with a leveller to secure a creditable draw.
Pryce said: “It was a good game, there was some good football played by both sides.
“We went 1-0 up, Pollok came back, took the lead on us, but it went to-and-fro, and we came back at the end. It was a good game.
“I think the people who came along to watch it, it wouldn’t just have been a ‘passive friendly’, both teams were competitive in the game.
“It was a good exercise for our boys to play against a quality side like Pollok, and I enjoyed the game.
“It showed us the good parts we have in the team, that they can get their foot on the ball and play and create opportunities, but it also showed the down sides, and we have to iron out those errors.
“We’ve given away another penalty – that’s five in five games, so we need to iron out those little errors, because if you do it against a top side they will punish you, and Pollok did.
“There was a wee spell in the second half, just after they went in front 3-2, when it looked as though they could go on, stretch their lead, and take the game away from us but credit to our players – they hung in, towards the end of the game we came on strong again, and got the late equaliser through Ryan McManus.
“I was happy with the effort and performance of the players. There were obviously bits and bobs we need to work on, to improve on, but that’s what these games are for.
“We’re almost a month off from competitive fixtures, so the fact that we’re getting games on a Saturday keeps the players ticking over, just as though it’s a normal game.
“It was a good game, the people who came along would have seen six goals, some really good play from both sides, great saves from both goalkeepers, so an entertaining game.”
Pryce is pleased to have lined up a friendly against Lanark for this coming Saturday, and reckons it keeps his side ready for their bid for at least promotion from the second tier.
He said: “It is good to keep ticking things over. We’ve got another bounce game next week against Lanark United, so that will keep us going, and then we’re back in training as normal, preparing for Blantyre Vics.
“Lanark are a good side and it will be another good test for us and it gets everybody on the pitch.”