Gary Locke is adamant Ryan Stevenson can be the answer to Raith Rovers’ goal-scoring woes after insisting the former Hearts star is far from over the hill.
Thirty-two-year-old Stevenson joined Rovers just hours before Monday afternoon’s 2-0 Fife derby defeat against Dunfermline, making a quick-fire debut as a second-half substitute.
The ex-St Johnstone man was a pivotal figure for Hearts during Locke’s tenure as boss at Tynecastle, scoring eight goals in 29 appearances.
Nevertheless, the Stark’s Park boss is adamant Stevenson’s arrival is anything but an old pal’s act – and firmly believes he will provide the physicality and clinical touch Raith have been lacking during their recent dry spell.
Rovers have not won since October and have found the net just twice in their last seven fixtures ahead of their encounter with Falkirk this weekend.
Locke said: “Ryan is only 32 so I’ve got no doubt that he still has plenty to give, that is why I have brought him here.
“He has attributes and qualities that are different to what we have here. We have been lacking a target man during the first half of the season, someone who gives us that option to get the ball forward.
“Ryan can hold the ball up, link the play and, importantly, he has goals in him. That is the only thing I have been disappointed in: our lack of goals. Our general play has been good, so if we keep creating the chances, hopefully we will take them.”
Lewis Vaughan, meanwhile, had joined Dumbarton on loan for the rest of the season, in spite of signing a new deal with Raith until the summer of 2018.
With balancing the budget a constant challenge, Locke does not envisage much more business from the Kirkcaldy club this January, aside from temporary departures.
He continued: “We were keen to get our business done early in the window and we are delighted to get the two Ryans (Hardie and Stevenson) in, players who are a real threat.
“There’s not a much more we are looking to do because, like any club, you need to balance the books. That is another reason Lewis Vaughan has gone out on loan – when you bring players in, you need to keep the wages in check.
“The board have been great with me, but we don’t have wads of money.
“We are looking at a couple of younger lads who feel ready for first-team football at a lower level maybe going out on loan.”
Locke does, however, hope to secure extensions to the loans of Rangers duo Scott Roberts and Jordan Thompson, who could potentially play their final games for the club against the Bairns on Saturday.
