Gozie to start in U20s

Jim Jefferies will start his new striker Chigozie Ugwu in the Under 20s league match against Hearts at Newtongrange on Monday night.

Commenting on the Oxford born striker’s twenty minutes on Saturday the Manager said:-

"You can see he is a big man. The last decision against him there when the right back hesitated, he just bounced off him - that was not a foul. We want him to come in and use his power, that is what we want him to do. I think he was harsh done to on a couple of decisions, he does not set out to have intentional fouls. He is that big and has strong. When someone is close to him, they will bounce off him because they are not going to knock him over.

“Gozie is in there to give that something different but he is not up to speed with the fitness.

Gregor Buchanan was subbed just six minutes into the second half as he was nursing an ankle injury. The Manager explained that his close season signing from Airdrieonians was sent to hospital for an X Ray.

"He went up to win a ball in the first half and just jarred his ankle. Hopefully there is nothing major in that but we just had to take him off. Wee Josh was missing on Saturday after being outstanding in midweek. We missed him because he picks up the ball and drives it. He gets the tempo up and he was missed.

"Alex Whittle had to call off; he was originally down as a substitute but he twisted his knee in the warm up and wasn't available. We maybe could have used him as well. Because I had to use a sub for an injury to Buchanan, it was between Gozie and Andy Stirling to come on. We had planned to bring on Ryan Wallace and Andy Stirling but when it came to the decision we just felt that it was more needed for Gozie to just gear it up a bit and give them something to think about.

"I would have liked to have been in a position to get Andy in as well. He is coming back from a hamstring injury but he too will play on Monday night in the reserves and be ok for next week."

Under 20s kick off v Hearts at 7.00pm, Monday 11th August at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange.