Strathspey Thistle add to firepower with arrival of Rothes striker on loan
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The Jags have brought in a promising young striker on loan from rivals Rothes until the end of the season.
And Shane Harkness (19) could get a run-out in a friendly away to Scottish League 2 outfit Elgin City if Thistle can fill their blank weekend.
The Grantown club has been left without a fixture this Saturday.
They had been due to try and host Huntly again after the snowbound pitch claimed Saturday’s Highland League fixture with them at Seafield Park.
However, Brechin City are in Scottish Cup replay action so their Merchants Highland League Cup game with Brora Rangers has been postponed.
Highland League bosses think the pitch conditions and the weather forecast make the Jags game unlikely so they have changed the fixture list on Saturday to Brora Rangers and Huntly at Dudgeon Park. Jags boss Charlie Brown was hopefully that the friendly at Borough Briggs in Elgin would be confirmed as the Strathy went to press.
There was still a couple of inches of the snow on the Seafield Park pitch and the forecast leading into the weekend was for more snow.
“The league asked us if we could cancel the game with Huntly rather than having another likely cancellation, and we agreed to that,” said Brown.
On the new striker, he said: “Rothes have a surplus of forwards so we have managed to bring in Shane for the rest of the season. He can play out wide or through the middle.
“He has been in and out of their team but he is still young and Rothes have high hopes for him.
“They now have their three most experienced strikers fit and back playing and Shane was finding it hard to get into their team and he was looking to get games.
“Luckily enough for us the two clubs have a good relationship and Ross Jack offered us Shane’s services.”
“He has got six goals in 12 goals and hopefully he can continue that with us.”
Brown said that Harkness’ arrival will give him more options up front with Kris Duncan often playing as the lone striker.
“This will give us more choices up front and will help our young forward Ethan Cairns who is 16 to come on.”
Meanwhile Jake Thompson who has played 10 games for the Jags this season, scoring once, has suffered an ankle injury and will be out for three to four months. He has returned to parent club Elgin City.
