Macadie’s return is ‘like a new signing’ for Wick Academy
Mark Macadie will be “like a new signing” for Wick Academy as he takes his place in the squad for Saturday’s Highland League encounter with Nairn County at Station Park.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has completed his loan spell with Halkirk United after recovering from a long-term injury.
The Scorries will be close to full strength, having had no fixture last weekend, although Jack Henry will serve the second game of his two-match suspension.
Manager Gary Manson said: “Mark Macadie will be back in the squad after his loan. He is more or less like a new signing for us.
“He was a long time out, so it’s good for him to get back.
“Brandon Sinclair has a slight foot complaint, so we’ll need to check on him later in the week.”
Academy will be looking to improve on their home defeat to Keith a fortnight ago when a late header by Brody Alberts was enough to give the Maroons all three points.
“Obviously the Keith game didn’t go the way we wanted it to go,” Manson said. “But looking back and reflecting on it, it was a game that we probably should have won.
“Watching the game back, we definitely shaded it. But when you don’t put the ball in the net you’re always vulnerable to a ball into the box.
“We’ll just need to take that on the chin and I’ve spoken about it to the players at length.
“We know exactly where we went wrong against Keith, and where we have been going wrong this season, so we’ll just need to try and put that right in the coming games.”
Nairn are 12th in the table, one place above Academy, but Manson believes Ross Tokely’s side are in “something of a false position at the moment”.
The Wick manager said: “They’ve got some really top players in that team that could play for more or less any team in the league in the forward areas.
“We’ll need to be wary of them and switched on, and not give them the room that they will be able to hurt us in.”
With 11 Highland League sides in Scottish Cup second-round action last Saturday, the Scorries had an extra training session to make up for their lack of competitive action.
“It was good to keep ticking over and keep ourselves fit and fresh,” Manson said.
Scottish Cup second-round results (ties involving Highland League clubs): Brechin City 3, Huntly 2; Brora Rangers 2, Formartine United 1; East Fife 0, Banks O’ Dee 1; Fraserburgh 3, Turriff United 1 (after extra time); Inverurie Locos 1, Dundee North End 3 (after extra time); Keith 0, Clydebank 3; Linlithgow Rose 3, Clachnacuddin 0; Sauchie Juniors 0, v Buckie Thistle 2.
Scottish Cup third-round draw (ties involving Highland League clubs): Banks O’ Dee v Hamilton Academical; Clydebank v Buckie Thistle; Cowdenbeath v Brechin City; Fraserburgh v Annan Athletic; Livingston v Brora Rangers; (ties to be played on weekend of November 30).
Highland League fixtures for Saturday, November 2: Banks O’ Dee v Brora Rangers; Brechin City v Formartine United; Buckie Thistle v Lossiemouth; Clachnacuddin v Forres Mechanics; Inverurie Locos v Huntly; Keith v Deveronvale; Nairn County v Wick Academy; Rothes v Turriff United; Strathspey Thistle v Fraserburgh.
