Highland League preview: Latest transfer and postponement news covered as player of the year Angus Grant vows to bounce back from injury setback

Buckie Thistle have signed Cole Donaldson on loan and Lossiemouth have recruited Aidan Cruickshank ahead of their matches in the Breedon Highland League.

Although the wintry weather has impacted Saturday’s card, the Jags’ clash with Nain County at Station Park and the Coasters’ Grant Park encounter with Brechin City are both set to go ahead.

Buckie have brought in midfielder Donaldson from Cove Rangers until the end of the season.

The 17-year-old, who is the son of Inverurie Locos manager Dean Donaldson, has featured seven times for Cove this season after recovering from a broken leg suffered during a loan stint with Inverurie last term.

Thistle boss Lewis MacKinnon said: “I’ve seen Cole play a couple of times and he’s an exciting player to watch who is well-regarded at Cove.

“He’s an exciting prospect and we feel he can gain good first-team experience with us and also help us try to push up the table.

“I spoke to Dean about him and I think Cole will fit in well with how we play and will give us an extra dimension in terms of our attacking play.

“He’s been around the Cove first-team squad all season and he’s really keen to impress and do well for Buckie, which is good.”

Cruickshank has plenty to offer the Coasters

Meanwhile, midfielder Cruickshank joins Lossie on loan from fellow Highland League side Forres Mechanics until January.

The 20-year-old previously had a spell with the Coasters during the 2023-24 season and boss Steve Porter said: “Aidan’s a really good attacking option who has shown he can create and score goals at Highland League level.

“We’re the lowest scoring team in the league so if Aidan can give us something extra in attack that’ll hopefully help us score more goals.

“Hopefully the loan will benefit us and benefit Aidan, who’s keen to get more minutes under his belt.

“Forres and their manager Steven MacDonald have been really good to deal with so hopefully this works out well for all parties.”

Forres have also loaned 19-year-old attacker Josh Taylor to North Caledonian League side Golspie Sutherland until January, while Brechin are without Ben Armour, Dugald Farquhar and Adam Hutchison for the trip to face Lossie at Grant Park.

Brindle revitalised at Nairn

Meanwhile, Paul Brindle believes he’s getting back to his best at Nairn County.

The attacker joined the Wee County in the summer and has netted five goals so far this term.

However, it’s not so long ago that the 32-year-old thought he was finished with football.

Brindle retired at the end of the 2023-24 season, but returned to action with Strathspey Thistle last term before switching to Nairn for this campaign.

He said: “I’m really enjoying it here, I had a spell where I sort of fell out of love with football. Nairn’s a great club and I think how much I’m enjoying it reflects in my performances.

“I’m getting back towards the level I expect of myself, which I maybe haven’t reached in the last couple of years.

“People maybe say you’re past it for whatever reason and last season I got a fair bit of stick in some quarters.

“But that doesn’t put me up or down – as much as anything I came into this season wanting to prove something to myself.

“I still believe I’m a top player at this level and I want to show that.

“It’s OK thinking that, but you have to put in the performances to prove it and I feel like I’m getting back towards those levels.”

News from around the Highland League

Clachnacuddin v Inverurie Locos at Grant Street Park is set to go ahead. Andrew Macrae, Josh Meekings, Greg Morrison, Copeland Thain and Jack MacKay are missing for the Lilywhites, Callum Duncan returns for the Railwaymen, but Robert Ward is out.

Wick Academy’s Harmsworth Park encounter with Deveronvale is also likely to be played.

George Ewing, Mark Macadie and Jack Henry are back for the Scorries, but Marc Coghill, Owen Harrold, Alan Hughes and Kyle Henderson are out. Grant Moroney is sidelined for the Banffers.

Turriff United v Banks o’ Dee will be subject to a pitch inspection on Saturday morning.

Should the game go ahead Turra are without Glen Donald, Timi Fatona and Ewan Clark. Mark Reynolds, Lachie MacLeod and Kane Winton are missing for Dee.

Huntly’s Grant taking the positives – despite injury blow

Breedon Highland League player of the year Angus Grant has vowed to come back stronger than ever after revealing he’s set for surgery on a knee injury.

The Huntly striker tore cartilage in his right knee during the Black and Golds’ defeat to Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park on October 25.

Now Grant, who previously ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in the same knee in August 2021, is likely to spend the next few months on the sidelines following an operation.

The 27-year-old, who was also the Highland’s League leading scorer last season, said: “It is difficult because I’ve been through it before and nobody wants to be out injured.

“But you get things like this in life that can knock you down, but you need to take the positives out of it.

“We’re still finalising things regarding surgery, but it looks like an operation will be required.

“On the bright side it’s nowhere near as bad as my previous injury. After going through that and coming back stronger I’ll work hard and make sure I come back stronger this time.

Motivation to come back

“This is only going to be a minor setback for me, I’ve still got a lot to offer.

“When you win the Highland League player of the year award and the top scorer awardyou want to try to show you can reach that level again and try to be in contention for those awards again.

“I’m looking forward to the future and I’ve got more motivation than ever to come back and do well again.

“You take it for granted sometimes when you’re playing, but once you’re injured you miss it.

“I’ve got the hunger and motivation and good people around me so I can’t wait to get back.

“How long I’m out for will depend on the surgery, but I think it’ll be at least a couple of months.”

Postponements hit card

Huntly’s scheduled game on Saturday against Forres Mechanics at Christie Park has been postponed due to snow, as have Formartine United v Fraserburgh, Keith v Strathspey Thistle and Rothes v Brora Rangers.

[Source: Press and Journal]