Aberdeenshire Shield: Keith could bring in Cove Rangers loan signing Rhys Thomas for the visit of Inverurie Locos to Kynoch Park
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KEITH could have Rhys Thomas in their ranks tonight for the start of their Aberdeenshire Shield campaign.
The Maroons are on the brink of finalising a loan deal for the Cove Rangers defender in time for their home clash with Inverurie Locos.
Manager Craig Ewen hopes to have the 20-year-old - who was on loan at Keith last term - available tonight if the loan had been rubber stamped by the Scottish FA.
It's set to be one in, one out at Kynoch Park as striker Scott Gray has been placed on the transfer list.
The 21-year-old from Newmachar came through the youth ranks at Keith but has struggled to work his way into the starting line-up since returning from a coaching stint in America during the summer.
“Scott had been away and missed pre season,” Ewen revealed. “We have a bigger squad and he has found it difficult to break through, and his contract is up in the summer.”
Keith were scheduled to play Buckie Thistle on league business on Saturday, but Jags’ interest in the SPFL Trust Trophy saw them drawn to play Northern Irish champions Linfield instead.
Ewen took his squad on a Saturday morning training session, and also held a light training stint last night to prepare for tonight’s big cup clash with Locos.
The Maroons’ manager expects his opponents to be eager to bounce back from a poor result on Saturday when they needed a late equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw at bottom club Strathspey Thistle.
“I would imagine they are going to be looking for a big reaction as they were disappointed not to get the three points at Strathspey,” he said.
Keith will soon take on the Grantown side themselves, as a busy run of fixtures after tonight’s cup clash sees league contests at Deveronvale on Saturday, Lossiemouth next midweek then Strathy at home the following Saturday.
All three league fixtures are against teams currently below 12th-placed Keith but Ewen knows his men will have to work hard for victory on each occasion.
“They are all big games for different reasons,” he said. “I watched Vale at Turriff on Saturday and that could have been 5-5 by half time but Turriff took their chances.
“Lossie away will be tough as well and Strathspey had a good result on Saturday.
We can see there’s no easy games in the Highland League.
“We will focus on Locos first. Outwith the top five or six in the league, anybody can beat anybody. If you’re on your best on the day and take your opportunities, that can be the difference.”
