Elgin City make loan move for Caley Thistle defender Cameron Harper
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ELGIN City will do more loan business with Caley Thistle to deal with a mid-season injury crisis.
Already missing centre backs Andy McDonald and Stephen Bronsky, left back Euan Spark suffered a recurrence of a knee problem which sidelined him at last club Brechin.
City boss Gavin Price has made a move to bring in 18-year-old ICT defender Cameron Harper as Spark’s replacement, fearing the defender is out long-term.
And while Bronsky could return this weekend from a head gash sustained in his team’s last home game, McDonald could miss the rest of January to recover from a knee injury.
“I am acting on it now and I am hopefully going to get Cameron Harper in,” said Price. “I have watched him in the past and he’s someone that is very highly thought-of at Inverness.
“We probably wouldn’t have needed him because Euan has been so steady this year but circumstances have dictated that we might need someone now, so we are hopeful of getting him in for Saturday.”
Elgin host Edinburgh City tomorrow, having lost 2-0 at leaders Cove in their final game of 2019.
Bronsky’s injury saw him break his perfect record of starting appearances this season and fellow ever-present Spark didn’t make it to the half time break as his old injury resurfaced.
“We need to get it properly diagnosed this week but it is the recurrence of an old knee problem which has kept him out in the past, so it’s a bit worrying. I would imagine he would be out for at least a month.
“With Andy again it’s a knee problem and I think he is going to need rest for two or three weeks.”
Price is eyeing other loan options as well, with striker Matty Aitken now back at parent club Forfar and some uncertainty over Caley Thistle’s plans for winger Daniel MacKay.
MacKay’s loan spell at City is due to expire after Saturday’s game, though Price remains hopeful that it can be extended until the end of the season.
Harper’s imminent arrival meant terminating goalkeeper Daniel Hoban’s spell at Borough Briggs as Elgin cannot have three loan players from the same club.
A team-mate of MacKay’s in the Caley Thistle youth system, Harper made sub appearances for the first team in both legs of last season’s Premiership play-off match against Dundee United, as well as a string of league and cup outings.
Both he and Bronsky could feature against Edinburgh while midfielder Brian Cameron may also play if he comes though training this week, having missed the last three games with an ankle problem.
Price had to patch up his team in City’s first-ever visit to Cove’s Balmoral Stadium. Matthew Cooper filled in at centre back and David Wilson returned at right back, switching to the left when Spark went off and allowing Rory MacEwan to drop back from midfield.
An uncharacteristic error by keeper Tom McHale gifted Cove’s Declan Glass an opening goal before half time. Elgin’s push for a second half equaliser saw them suckered by a late Mitch Megginson strike to seal the home side’s win.
“I don’t think there was a lot in the game and some key moments went for them,” said Price. “I’m pleased with the way we played and it’s only our second defeat in ten games. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways against Edinburgh.”
