Forres Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald excited by competition between new goalkeepers Lee Herbert and Aidan MacDonald for number one jersey at Mosset Park
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Forres Mechanics manager Steven MacDonald believes he has signed a good quality goalkeeper in Lee Herbert.
But he believes the former Buckie Thistle man faces a battle for the number one shirt with another new Mechanics signing, ex-Burghead Thistle keeper Aidan MacDonald.
MacDonald has brought in both goalies in what he sees as a battle to replace long-serving Stuart Knight, who made the switch to Buckie earlier this month.
Jags were keen to keep Herbert to work alongside Knight but he requested a move and having had a loan spell at Forres recently, chose the Mosset Park club as his next destination.
"Lee is only 22 and he has a lot of Highland League experience for one so young," MacDonald said. "Everyone still knows he’s a really good goalkeeper and it’s a case of him kicking on now and hopefully he will benefit from his experiences so far.
"It wasn’t hard selling the club to him, it was a decision to make. He was with a team that very nearly won the league and it came down to his own thoughts on whether he would be the number one.
"You don’t get these guarantees in football now and we are having the same discussions because I have signed Aidan too. They are two really good goalkeepers and I am excited about both of them."
MacDonald has also added defenders Mark McLauchlan from Buckie and Calum Howarth from Nairn County as well as midfielder Shaun Cameron from Dufftown.
He has also persuaded former Elgin City youngster Harvey Henderson - who was on loan at Lossiemouth United - to sign a two-year extension.
The Forres manager has recruited well since taking on the job, bringing former Caley Thistle young guns like Ben Barron and Shaun Morrison to the club.
He has a string of players in their teenage years or early 20s who he wants to see proving their worth at the club and fighting to earn a regular place in the team.
"Shaun falls into the same bracket as the several really promising young players we’ve got," MacDonald added. "He’s got a bright future, he’s got ability and pace and it’s all about stepping up to the next level.
"It’s up to all the young players to push themselves out of their comfort zones and fight their way into the team. But it doesn't happen overnight.
"Harvey is another who has shown loads of ability and is one for the future and Shaun falls into that bracket too.
"They will all need a bit of time and it’s about how quickly they can move on themselves. They have to try and make it happen for themselves and give it that bit extra.
"We know they are all good young footballers but it's about grabbing the bull by the horns and showing what they can do.
"To step up to this level you need to be doing it all the time. There is no pressure on them to do it but we will give them the chance to kick on and we will see the ones that want to do it.
"That’s the whole point of having a competitive squad, for everyone to be pushing themselves and with that we can be more at it and show that no-one will be just getting handed a jersey next season."
With five signings since the end of last season, MacDonald has worked hard in the transfer market but he hinted that his business isn't done yet.
"I’ve still got two positions that I look at and feel we need to strengthen so we will see what happens.
"We are fairly well-organised and done a lot of work to get to this position but there’s people on lists who we feel could potentially do things."
