Raith striker Mark Stewart insisted that he would welcome competition from any new signing after helping the Kirkcaldy side to a win over Alloa at Stark’s Park.
Rovers have taken several strikers on trial in recent weeks, and are talking to an ex-Premiership forward, as manager Ray McKinnon looks to fill the void left by the long-term injury suffered by Lewis Vaughan.
However, Stewart showed his own worth to the team with his second goal of the season, and a hard-working display, as Rovers got back to winning ways after defeats to Falkirk and Stenhousemuir.
“I would welcome another striker at the club,” Stewart said. “It’s a shame what’s happened to wee Lewie, but he’ll bounce back. He’s got a massive future ahead of him.
“But Wighty (Craig Wighton) and I need competition as well, so I want the club to bring in another striker. I welcome the competition.
“You never know what could happen, or maybe one game I’ll be more beneficial coming off the bench and making an impact.
“There’s 40-odd games in a season so we need another striker.
“I got 10 goals in the league and I want to improve on that and hopefully fire us to the play-offs. If that’s not the aim, then there’s no point in playing.”
Raith’s patient passing game saw them struggle to break down a determined Alloa defence in the first half, but the visitors resistance was broken by a spectacular James Craigen strike 10 minutes after the break.
Ryan McCord’s corner was cleared to the edge of the area, where Craigen took a touch before sending an unstoppable volley into the top corner.
Raith doubled their lead five minutes later as another McCord corner was headed towards goal by Iain Davidson and on-loan Dundee striker Wighton flicked the ball over the line for his first goal for the club.
Stewart completed the scoring with five minutes left, turning home Jason Thomson’s cut-back from six yards.
The goal meant that, for the first time in Raith’s 123-year history, the club has won three consecutive competitive home matches by three goals, while keeping a clean sheet each time.
It also took Raith into the top four, and Stewart believes the club’s good start to the season is down to the raised standards at Stark’s Park.
“Last season we were struggling to get over the line in games like that,” he said.
“We’ve had three 3-0 wins at home and four of our six games have been clean sheets. It’s been a good start to the season and there’s so much improvement, that’s the encouraging thing.”
“We still don’t think we’re firing. As the gaffer said we’ve still so much to give.”