Raith Rovers boss Grant Murray says young defender Reece Donaldson has a future at the Fife club after being sent out on loan.
The 19-year-old has found first-team opportunities limited in Kirkcaldy this season and will be looking to seize the chance he has been given to impress while out on loan at League Two Peterhead until the middle of January at least.
Indeed, Donaldson was named man of the match on his first outing at Balmoor in Peterhead’s 1-1 draw with East Stirling at the weekend.
Murray believes the stint with Jim McInally’s team in the north-east will do Donaldson a power of good.
“He’s missed out this season quite a bit, coming in here and there. I think it is important for him at the position he’s at in his career to go out on loan, get good competitive games and get him back playing,” said Murray.
“He’ll be under a bit of pressure as well in proper games. Reserve games are great for players to top up fitness here and there but sometimes a player of Reece’s calibre doesn’t get tested enough in some of the reserve games.
“The way reserve teams are now, they are very young and we felt to get him games he had to go out on loan. He’ll come back a better player for that.
“He’s only played one game and got man of the match already, so it’ll get him back in the swing of things and then he’ll come back to us looking to improve and get back in the team.
“That’s one of the reasons we put him up there because we know he’s capable of playing first-team football.”
Rovers have turned their attention to this weekend’s home game against Queen of the South after suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
Murray’s men followed up a 2-0 loss at Dundee with a 1-0 setback at Alloa, although the Raith boss will welcome back full-back Callum Booth this weekend following his recent suspension.
“He’ll come right back into contention,” Murray added. “I think what Callum has given us has been great his defensive side and his attacking attributes so he will definitely come back into my thoughts for this weekend.”
Rovers are to introduce a voucher system for the club’s next three home games which will give supporters priority when it comes to buying tickets for the Ramsdens Cup final against Rangers in April.
Fans paying cash at the home turnstiles at the games against Queen of the South on Saturday, Dumbarton on December 14 and Cowdenbeath on December 21 will be given a voucher.
Supporters who collect at least two of the three vouchers should retain them until details of priority ticket sales are announced at a later date.