Duncan back for Highland opener

SHETLAND welcome back power­ful Delting midfielder Alan Duncan into the 16-man squad which will travel to Fort William for the county team’s first appearance in the Highland League Challenge Cup tomorrow.

His return is a boost for manager John Johnson at a time when his side is coping without Delting
wide man Stuart Hay and young Whalsay forward Ross Irvine. Duncan is expected to replace fellow Delting midfielder Ross Jamieson, who is also unavailable for the game.

Another Delting man, striker Ross MacDougal, has been struggling with injury was pulled out of the squad on Wednesday, which could give Celtic striker Dominic Mann a chance to impress from the start. McDougal’s replacement in the squad is Paul Molloy of Whitedale.

Shetland’s players know that a potential tie against one of the strongest Highland League sides, Cove Rangers, could lie in wait if they succeed against Fort William in a match in which they will be seen as strong favourites.

Their opponents, who finished bottom after a host of heavy defeats last season, saw their Highland League campaign start in a similar vein as they went down 4-1 to Lossiemouth last weekend.

Cove Rangers are the reigning Highland League champions and will be familiar to Shetland wing-back Leighton Flaws, who had a spell with Cove while studying in Aberdeen. They take on Nairn County tomorrow with the winners facing Shetland or Fort William.

Possible line-up: Craig Dinwoodie, Leighton Flaws, Ross Moncrieff, Kevin Teale, Merv Jamieson, Richard Arthur, Alan Duncan, James Johnston, Karl Williamson, Joe Leask, Dominic Mann. Subs: Paul Grant, Josie Kay, Duncan Anderson, Scott Morrison, Paul Molloy.

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