From Saturday's showing it seems we need a striker, and once again we have a midweek game at a stadium for the first time, against a team for the first time. We could even get the revenge the Raith result was a few days later, as we could beat Alloa 4-0 after last season.
As well as Basher being in the squad, the trialists line up includes three strikers, Eddie Annand, Darren Jack and former Dumbarton man Emeka Obidile. Obidile trained with Saints last season whilst at Dumbarton and played in a few bounce games. He supposedly has pace and can be unpredictable, so sounds like the new Junior Mendes.
A trialist striker will never have a better chance to secure a contract. We desperately need a striker, and you'd have to think a goal from Obidile, Annand or Jack in either tonight's game or Saturday's game would almost be good enough for a contract. We missed out on Paul Ritchie and all he did was score in one game of two!
Annand will be trying extra hard tonight, as he was set to join Gretna before a move fell through.
A goal for Basher could even make him reconsider his decision to return to Bath Uni in September. We could always hope....
Other trialists include right back David van Zanten, who impressed against East Stirlingshire, and Billy Jones and former Arbroath defender Ross Currie.
New signing Kevin Twaddle is unavailible for tonight, whilst Hugh Murray, Mark Dempsie, David Jack, Robert Dunn and John O'Neill will miss out through injury.
Gretna have some interesting players in their squad, though whether they will play is not known. Former Saints striker Martin Cameron has signed for them but is supposedly injured, whilst Dean and David Holdsworth have supposedly signed for them, though again may not play. They have Ricky Robb on loan from Saints, and have also signed Danny Lennon from Partick Thistle. They might still have Saints legend Tommy Turner though he has supposedly been released.
Tonight's game will be a tough one as Gretna are a small team with big hopes. Their new chairman wants first division football inside three years! Lets hope it's a Saints win, with Basher on the scoresheet :-)