Keaghan Jacobs backs John Hughes as he rebuilds Livingston

KEAGHAN JACOBS celebrated signing a new two-year deal with Livingston by bagging a goal in last week’s fine 4-0 win away at Queen of the South – and the midfielder reckons signing up the current first-team stars can only leave the Lions confident ahead of next season.

The West Lothian side play their final home game of the campaign tomorrow against Greenock Morton, and Jacobs – who followed in Bobby Barr’s footsteps in extending his stay at the club – thinks signing up players with the last year’s experience behind them will only help John Hughes’s men after the summer break.

He said: “Getting a new contract’s a good achievement for me. It obviously gives you more confidence. I’m enjoying my football, we’re playing the type of the football I love to play and I’m happy where I am.

“I think we’ve kept a fair bit of the team so far from this year, and if we can do that we can go into next season confident.”

The Lions face Morton after another exuberant away showing in Dumfries, with the Lions showing more and more of the attacking football Hughes has promoted since his arrival.

And Jacobs thinks the match revealed a group of players getting ever more confident in that attacking, passing game.

He said: “Even before Queens had the man sent off we looked pretty comfortable. I thought we played some good football.

“I think you can see everyone getting more comfortable, wanting the ball, playing a passing game.”

However, Livi will be looking to end a run of five straight home defeats. “I think it’s just coincidence,” Jacobs insisted. “With the right preparation going into the game, which I know all the boys will be doing, we’ll be ready for Saturday and we’re looking forward to it.”