Post by Livi News on Jul 1, 2016 15:22:51 GMT 1
Livingston face Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday before taking on Greenock Morton three days later as the West Lothian outfit begin their quest for the League One title.
ivingston head coach David Hopkin says his team are raring to go as they kick off their pre-season schedule this weekend.
The Lions have their first two friendly matches against Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday and Greenock Morton on Tuesday and the gaffer reckons his players can’t wait to get back in action.
He said: “We’re all raring to go and looking forward to actually playing games after putting in some hard shifts at training over the last couple of weeks.
“Dunfermline and Morton are both Championship sides and will be difficult games. They’ve both played a couple of times too whereas these are our first games, so they’re possibly that wee bit sharper than us just now in terms of match practice.
“But you want to test yourselves in pre-season as well as getting the guys match-fit. They’re definitely looking forward to it.
“Then, after that, it’s straight into the League Cup group section, which is something a wee bit different.
“It means we’ll be in a position where we’ll have played a good seven or eight games before the league season starts.
“That should allow all the players to be match-sharp and fully fit as well as having had a few games to work on things like shape and tactics.”
The Lions, who will be hoping for a swift return to the second tier, don’t have a friendly currently scheduled for July 9, having had to cancel the planned visit of St Mirren as the two sides meet the following week in the League Cup.
However, the former Scotland international revealed the club are hoping to arrange another friendly fixture for July 23 – their off day in the League Cup group section – with the opponents possibly being an English Premier League side.
It has been a busy summer for the head coach who was offered a new deal and has overseen a revamp of the squad that was relegated from the Championship last season, with numerous departures as well as seven new arrivals to date.
And Hopkin says he’s liking the look of this season’s outfit – but does admit he’s on the prowl for another signing or two, including a striker.
He said: “I think the team is looking in good shape but I’m hoping to bring in some more players, especially strikers.
“We’ve only really got Liam Buchanan in that position just now as Danny Mullen has a slight hamstring injury but as pre-season goes on, we’ll get things sorted with that.
“It can be difficult at this time of the year with players exploring other options but the core of the team is in place and it’s just about adding valuable pieces to it.”
He added: “The boys are really looking sharp and I’m delighted with how they’ve been in training and the work they’ve put in. Their fitness looks great.
“I think that what I’ve brought in to the club over the summer are a lot of young players but young players who already have a fair amount of experience and a decent number of games under their belt at this level.”
Read more at www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/livingston-fc-david-hopkin-says-8317862#de13h1W145M8mFu8.99
ivingston head coach David Hopkin says his team are raring to go as they kick off their pre-season schedule this weekend.
The Lions have their first two friendly matches against Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday and Greenock Morton on Tuesday and the gaffer reckons his players can’t wait to get back in action.
He said: “We’re all raring to go and looking forward to actually playing games after putting in some hard shifts at training over the last couple of weeks.
“Dunfermline and Morton are both Championship sides and will be difficult games. They’ve both played a couple of times too whereas these are our first games, so they’re possibly that wee bit sharper than us just now in terms of match practice.
“But you want to test yourselves in pre-season as well as getting the guys match-fit. They’re definitely looking forward to it.
“Then, after that, it’s straight into the League Cup group section, which is something a wee bit different.
“It means we’ll be in a position where we’ll have played a good seven or eight games before the league season starts.
“That should allow all the players to be match-sharp and fully fit as well as having had a few games to work on things like shape and tactics.”
The Lions, who will be hoping for a swift return to the second tier, don’t have a friendly currently scheduled for July 9, having had to cancel the planned visit of St Mirren as the two sides meet the following week in the League Cup.
However, the former Scotland international revealed the club are hoping to arrange another friendly fixture for July 23 – their off day in the League Cup group section – with the opponents possibly being an English Premier League side.
It has been a busy summer for the head coach who was offered a new deal and has overseen a revamp of the squad that was relegated from the Championship last season, with numerous departures as well as seven new arrivals to date.
And Hopkin says he’s liking the look of this season’s outfit – but does admit he’s on the prowl for another signing or two, including a striker.
He said: “I think the team is looking in good shape but I’m hoping to bring in some more players, especially strikers.
“We’ve only really got Liam Buchanan in that position just now as Danny Mullen has a slight hamstring injury but as pre-season goes on, we’ll get things sorted with that.
“It can be difficult at this time of the year with players exploring other options but the core of the team is in place and it’s just about adding valuable pieces to it.”
He added: “The boys are really looking sharp and I’m delighted with how they’ve been in training and the work they’ve put in. Their fitness looks great.
“I think that what I’ve brought in to the club over the summer are a lot of young players but young players who already have a fair amount of experience and a decent number of games under their belt at this level.”
Read more at www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/livingston-fc-david-hopkin-says-8317862#de13h1W145M8mFu8.99