Nicolson fitness doubt for start of season
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DEFENDER Mark Nicolson has gone under the knife but could still be fit for Elgin City’s first game of the season at Ross County on July 23.
Nicolson, last season’s players’ player of the year, has had a cyst removed from his left knee and had a slight tear in his cartilage tidied up.
However, Elgin City manager Ross Jack has not ruled out the former Ross County player for the season opener at Dingwall in the Ramsdens Cup (formerly Challenge Cup).
"Mark will be out for three to four weeks still, but he is not the type of boy who loses his fitness, so he could still make it," insisted Jack.
The club is relishing another match up with cup holders County after losing 2-1 to the Dingwall club at Borough Briggs in the first round of the competition last season.
"They have signed a lot of boys and seem to have a big budget, but I am confident we will have an excellent starting eleven.
"It will be against the cup holders on their own patch but we have a lot of ex-County boys with a point to prove. It would be great if we could get through, but it will be difficult."
Jack confirmed the signing of St Johnstone youth team goalkeeper Zander Clark, who turns 19 on Sunday, on a season-loan from the SPL club.
The Scot revealed earlier this month that Clark, who has been with the Perth Saints since 2008, was on his way to Borough Briggs.
The 6ft 3in teenager has also had spells with Hamilton Accies, Rangers and Celtic as a youngster.
"He has plenty of potential and great recommendations from the goalkeeping coach at St Johnstone, Gordon Marshall," said Jack.
"It is a similar situation to when we signed John Gibson (Dundee) and Scott Bain (Aberdeen). If he does as well as those two, I will be delighted."
Banff-based keeper John Calder also remains on the Borough Briggs books, although Jack revealed he has been struggling with injury since the end of the season.
"We are also still in talks with a couple of Premier League teams with a view to taking loan players in," he added.
Zander Jack has returned to the Borough Briggs fold following his loan spell at Rothes last season and the manager revealed the former youth player is bursting to try and force his way into the first team plans.
He will be looking to follow the example of former youth team colleague Brian Cameron whose performances last season earned him the young player and supporters’ player of the year awards.
Cameron has been out for most of the summer with a slight Achilles injury, which he has been receiving treatment on, but he returned to training this week with a light session.
The club’s pre-season schedule has almost been filled completely and they will kick off on Satuday, July 2 at home to Inverness Caley Thistle (3pm).
That will be followed by a succession of away games against Highland League opposition: Friday, July 8 v Clach (7.45pm); Saturday, July 9 v Fraserburgh (2pm); Wednesday, July 13 v Rothes (7.45pm) and Tuesday, July 19 v Forres (7.45pm).
The competitive action will start with the trip to Dingwall on July 23, followed by a visit to East Fife on July 30 in the Scottish Communities League Cup first round.
City will kick off their Division Three campaign at home to Berwick Rangers on Saturday, August 6, followed by a trip to Montrose the following Saturday.
