Montrose manager George Shields maintains the arrival of defender Marvin Andrews has given everyone at Links Park a much-needed boost.
The former Trinidad and Tobago centre half, who has signed until the end of the season, made his debut against Arbroath last week, with his presence helping the Gable Endies secure a creditable draw with the league leaders.
Speaking ahead of today’s game at home to East Stirling, Shields revealed that Andrews’ addition has been one bright spot in what has turned out to be a week from hell for the Angus team.
First came news that defender Paul Watson will be out for six to 10 weeks after breaking his wrist in the game against Arbroath seven days ago, but that was compounded on Thursday evening when striker Steven Day broke his ankle in training.
He will also be out for at least six to 10 weeks, joining fellow forward Leighton McIntosh on the sidelines as he recovers from ligament damage.
“Everything’s been fine apart from the injuries,” Shields told Courier Sport.
“I’m hoping to bring in a couple of players in the window, although it’s been great that we’ve managed to sign big Marvin until the end of the season.
“He’s given the whole place a lift and he’s definitely looking a lot leaner than he was.
“My concern was that he wasn’t going to be fit but he was superb on Saturday and proved that he is more than capable of playing at this level or even higher.”
The latest injury blows come after former Dundee and Dundee United player Steven Robb officially retired from the game, while defender Craig Bell has also left the club to join Forfar West End.
A win today would take Montrose six points clear of East Stirling in the table and see them close back in on the top half, and that’s what Shields hopes his players can do.
But he added: “That’s the thing that worries me we seem to do well against the teams in the top four but when we play the teams around us we seem to be dropping points.
“We’ve been excellent against the likes of Arbroath, Albion Rovers and Queen’s Park, but if you look at the Elgin game a couple of weeks ago we found ourselves 2-0 down and gave ourselves too much to do.
“But I think we’re playing well and we’re more than capable of getting ourselves into the play-offs.
“It’s just that bit of consistency we’ve been lacking.”