Armstrong urges Star fringe men to impress

Published on Friday 7 March 2008 09:29

NEWTONGRANGE STAR boss Graeme Armstrong today urged his fringe players to use this weekend's Dechmont Forklift Cup clash against Edinburgh United to stake a claim for a regular starting place.

With a backlog of Premier Division fixtures and the prospect of playing two matches a week towards the end of the campaign, Armstrong is set to shuffle his pack for the visit of their lower league opponents tomorrow.

However, while revealing that he intends to ring the changes at New Victoria Park, Armstrong insisted he does not expect this to adversely effect his side.

In fact, he is calling on those who come into the team to give him a selection headache as Star enter a crucial part of the season with promotion still an outside bet and ties in the East of Scotland and Fife & Lothians Cup still to be played.

"We'll be using this weekend to give some of the boys who haven't been playing a game," said the former Stenhousemuir defender.

"We're going to rest Gareth Hutchison and a few others. Gareth has been playing with a wee injury and some of the cup competitions offer the chance to give some players a break.

"It will allow a few guys to recharge the batteries and it also allows a few guys the opportunity to show what they can do.

"Guys like David Buchan haven't played too much because of work commitments and it's good for him. The only problem is that some of them lack a bit of match practice, but the only way for them to get that is to play them. We're going to need them in the run-in to the season, so that's the thinking behind playing them this weekend. It's up to them to take that chance."

While Newtongrange will be favourites to progress beyond Edinburgh and book a trip to Penicuik Athletic in the second round of the tournament, Armstrong was adamant that nobody at the club will be taking Edinburgh lightly.

"We want to do well in this cup as we do in all competitions," said Armstrong. "Edinburgh are always a hard-working side with some good players. We always get a tough game against them and we're expecting the same thing this weekend.

"The league is still our priority this season as that's your barometer for where you stand but that doesn't mean we'll be easing up in the cups."

Star are sweating over the availability of Stuart Roseburgh, Grant Meaney, Paul Forbes and Steven Hardie who have been struggling with a flu-like virus recently.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh United boss Alan Miller admitted today that his side will go into the clash as underdogs – but refused to rule out the possibility of pulling off a shock result. The Capital's only junior club defeated Star earlier in the season at Paties Road in a cup competition and although this weekend promises to be a tougher task away from home, Miller is hopeful that his players can rise to the occasion.

"There is no doubt at all that we are underdogs because they still have a chance of promotion to the Super League while we are mid-table in the lowest division," said the former Star player.

"Everything is stacked in their favour and they also have home advantage. I'm sure we'll give them a game though because every game recently between us has only been settled by a goal or so.

"There is a rivalry between the clubs because of where they are situated and our players enjoy going up there because it's such a good set-up, as do I.

"I don't think Newtongrange are very far away from being a major force again in the junior game if they can keep hold of their good young players. From our point of view though this is a one off match and we'll look to do our best and try and get a result.

"Results may not have been what we had been hoping for and losing a last-minute equaliser against Dunbar was a bit of a sickener, but performances have still been pretty good."

Barrie Richardson is unavailable for United while Paul Weatherston is a doubt with a chest infection.