Foreign-based trialists will be among those looked at by Elgin City boss Allan Hale as he aims to improve squad in January
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TRIALISTS based abroad will be looked at by Elgin City manager Allan Hale as he looks to improve his squad in January.
Hale took players from England, Sweden and Spain to Huntly during his three and a half years at Christie Park.
He is keen to run the rule over a few new faces in the New Year as he aims to add to the squad at Borough Briggs.
"Trialists will be coming up after Christmas," he said. "I'm keen to get people up and get a look at them.
"Some are just finished seasons abroad so should have a good level of fitness. We have access to a good list of players all over the world, really, but the quality and ability has to be there.
"Boys need to be good enough for what we are looking for. We are working on other things in the background as well – hopefully recruitment in the January window can give us more strength in depth."
An improved performance against league leaders Stenhousemuir has given encouragement to Hale ahead of Saturday's visit from Peterhead.
The Black and Whites were defeated 2-0 by the team at League Two's summit, with Matthew Yates' third-minute strike added to by Matthew Aitken's rebound from a penalty on the hour mark.
"The performance gave us a lot of encouragement," he said. "We were away from home against a team that had won seven in the row and were scoring freely, while on the flip side our form hasn't been great and we have conceded a lot.
"But I saw signs of the team I want us to be in terms of being aggressive, disciplined and compact. We never gave up too many clear-cut chances, other than in the last 20 minutes when we were committing bodies forward.
"Before that we were really structured with good intensity and aggression and created opportunities ourselves which hadn't been the case in the previous two games.
"We gifted them two goals. The first was from a long ball when two of our back for stepped up and two dropped and then, after Mattie Jamieson missed a one-on-one to level, Tom (McHale) and Connall (Ewan) didn't communicate which led to a penalty that they scored from.
"These are mistakes which we have got to cut out. They have been too frequent in the games we have been involved with so far. But the performance should give everyone encouragement that we can put in consistent performances and results will come."
Conceding an early goal meant Elgin were again off to a slow start – something Hale is hoping to stamp out.
"It's a focus and concentration thing, and maybe a nervousness thing as well," he added. "We have been made aware this has been a common trend and it's one we will look to rectify.
"The pleasing thing for me and Stefan (Laird, assistant) is that the players have been brilliant in taking ideas on board in training."
Matthew Cooper made his 300th appearance for City on Saturday, with Hale praising the club captain's attitude and application in training since he came in.
On Peterhead, he added: "It's a tough game against a team sitting comfortably in the play-off positions and challenging for the league title.
"Their team selection and personnel have been very consistent and they have a lot of threat at the top end of the pitch. They are physical, athletic and have good speed.
"It's a game we need to be well prepared for but the players are looking forward to it and hopefully we can continue on from a good performance last weekend with a good result."
Brian Cameron is suspended for the Peterhead match, but Ross Draper will return from injury.
