Elgin City goalkeeper Daniel Hoban is determined to make up for lost time this season to ensure the Moray club avoid a relegation battle in League 2.
Having recovered from bladder surgery, the 24-year-old was a stand-out in his first game since November 5 when he made his return in last Friday’s 2-0 loss at East Fife.
It was the latest setback for the Black and Whites, whose form since the turn of the year has been hugely disappointing with just three wins compared to seven defeats.
City have tumbled from promotion play-off contention to just three points above bottom spot, although they have two games in hand over Bonnyrigg Rose and Albion Rovers, who sit just below them in the table.
Fit and ready to play crucial part
For Hoban, he’s delighted to be back and able to play what he hopes will be a telling part with just eight fixtures to go.
He said: “After such a long time on the sidelines, I was itching to back last Friday.
“Last week was the first week where I was fully fit and in contention to play. Everything had to be put on hold.
“I’ve been training for almost three weeks and my confidence has grown within training. My body is able to handle the demands.
“I’m feeling in a good place, physically and mentally and ready to fight until the end of the season.
“I am happy to have put it behind me now and focus on football and picking up results.
“It’s not enjoyable being on the sidelines, especially when you’re not winning. You always want to play your part, to try and help. Now I’m back fit, I’m hoping I can do that.
“While it was good to play on Friday, you want to be winning, so it was a disappointing restart to my season.”
Clean sheet target for goalkeeper
Stirling Albion have overtaken title rivals Dumbarton in the chase for automatic promotion into League 1.
They hold a two-point advantage with a game in hand over their chasers, who lost 1-0 against Forfar Athletic in midweek.
Stirling are now back-to-back opponents for Elgin, at Borough Briggs on Saturday then at Forthbank on Tuesday.
Elgin’s impressive 2-1 win at Dumbarton last month can, according to Hoban, serve as motivation to try and secure crucial points against high-flying Stirling.
He said: “The most important thing for us right now is our next game. We’re focused on the first of these two games against Stirling Albion. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you want to go and and get three points.
“We need to use the fact we’ve already won at Dumbarton as a source of belief.
“The boys know we’ve not been quite at the races this season, but even on Friday night against East Fife, we created so many chances.
“If we score, that changes the whole complexion of the game. As a goalkeeper and part of the defence, we need to look at ourselves firstly, to see where we’re going wrong in terms of the goals we’re conceding.
“The numbers don’t lie and we’ve got goals in our team, with the majority coming from Kane Hester, while the likes of Russell Dingwall in midfield is having a really impressive season.
“As defenders and goalkeepers, if we can keep clean sheets, I have no doubt the boys up top can do what they have been doing all season. ”
Home improvements needed – Hoban
Elgin have won just four league games at Borough Briggs this season and Hoban insists the players and fans are driving for the same goal by turning around results.
He added: “As players, you have standards. When you fall below that, it’s frustrating for the supporters as well as for us.
“It’s important we stay patient and the fans stick with us and we’re determined to repay the supporters by the end of the season by taking us to where we need to be.”
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