Falkirk manager John McGlynn is giving trialist David Ninkovich another week to prove he deserves a contract, even as the winger cannot help ease injury concerns for the Premier Sports Cup opener against Edinburgh City.
Trialist gets extended chance
Ninkovich, who played the last 30 minutes of Tuesday's friendly win over Airdrie, arrived from Australian side Perth Azzurri. McGlynn revealed he will feature in a friendly against Genk next Saturday instead of the cup tie, as he is not yet a signed player.
“He’s still training with us. He obviously can’t take part in these games because he’s not a signed player,” McGlynn said. “However, we do have a game against Genk next Saturday, so he might get some kind of game time there.”
Comparison to former success
McGlynn hopes Ninkovich could replicate the impact of former Falkirk winger Barney Stewart, who was also discovered through a recommendation. “John Baird recommended him, I had a look at all the stuff he sent me and I thought, ‘You never know, it could be a new Barney Stewart, who knows?’,” McGlynn added. “That’s how we’ve managed to come up with guys like that by at least giving them a little bit of an opportunity. It’s not going to happen all the time but we’re always willing to try.”
Injury blow and rotation
Finn Yeats and Jack McMillan join Scott Bain and Keelan Adams on the sidelines for Saturday's match against Edinburgh City. With only one friendly played due to a late season finish and a training camp in Portugal, McGlynn admits rotation is inevitable. “That is definitely going to be the case. We couldn’t have come back any earlier, you have to give the guys a reasonable break and then just with the League Cup starting,” he said. “This year’s different, so it’s not ideal but I’m sure we’ll make the most of it.”
