CUMNOCK boss John McKeown has sealed seven new signings to date but admits to still on the lookout for further recruits.

Last season’s Super First Division champions successfully kicked off their programme of pre-season friendly games last weekend with a 3-0 victory at home to Lanark United but a couple of stiffer tests are now upon them with the Nock hosting the visit of Queen of the South tonight ahead of Shotts Bon Accord (managed by McKeown’s former No.2 Kieron McGuinness) coming through to Townhead Park this coming Saturday.

The straight-talking McKeown revealed last night: “The fact we were still playing competitively until the middle of June certainly influenced our thinking over whether to delay putting the players into game situations.

“This time of the season is all about getting up to speed in terms of fitness and our guys had less ground to make up than a lot of other teams.

“Rustiness was apparent in a string of missed chances but we finished strongly against Lanark with three goals in the closing 25 minutes and ideally we would like to pick up where we left off against Queen of the South while at the same time continuing to work on things we need to improve on.

“This 90 minutes and indeed the contest with Shotts are also intended to allow the players to get more familiar with playing alongside each other as well as getting to grips with what style of play is best suited to our new 3G Astro-Grass facility.”

The initial close season additions of attacking types Scott Anson (Shettleston), Calum McRobbie (Albion Rovers) and Willie Wells (Maryhill) have been augmented by the Ayrshire gaffer snapping up a trio of defenders in ex-Ayr United pair Andy Muir and Kieron Woods to go along with one-time Rangers centre-back signing Stephen McKenna (Queen of the South) and busy midfielder Kerr Samson.

The Nock boss said: “Kerr is a terrific young prospect with a turn of pace and I’m excited about what he brings to the table and Scott and Calum ’s time as a partnership at Shettleston could work in our favour.

“It was also pleasing that we looked rock solid at the back and the pointers are looking good for the season ahead, however a 16-man playing squad is simply not enough for the challenges we face and I’d love to bring in three or four more experienced types.

“We’ve already came up short in approaches to some targets and another problem is the general slowdown and lack of activity on the Junior transfer market.”

McKeown was not for disclosing names but thought to be on trial at Townhead Park hoping to attract a contract offer are ex-Shettleston defender Reon Juskowiack and out-of-favour Hurlford United frontman Ryan Nisbet who was previously on the books of Ayr United.

Delighted with his move to Ayrshire climes is bustling frontman Anson who admitted: “The gaffer is a meticulous planner and he makes sure that everything about Cumnock is professional and organised.

“This creates a fantastic environment for us players and I’m certainly enjoying our pre-season routines and mixing with so many top quality Juniors with Paul Burns and Del Esplin particularly catching the eye.

“The pre-season games are now coming thick and fast as we play three times in five days in looking to build up momentum for the big kick-off.”

In friendly contests last night, Clydebank winger Mark Burbridge’s second half opener at Dunterlie was cancelled out by a late Gary Carroll header to secure a 1-1 draw for Arthurlie while Rossvale beat Blantyre Vics 2-0 and hitman Stephen McDonald’s double saw Cumbernauld United overcome Thorniewood United 2-0.

Troon trio Ross Robertson, Scott Chatham and Adam Forsyth were on the mark in a 3-1 defeat of Ardeer Thistle and Wishaw frontman Sean McKenna helped himself to a brace of goals to go along with a K.B. Grant counter as the Lanarkshire outfit ran out 3-0 winners against Armadale Thistle, while Eddie Ablohr and Kieran Hollis scores saw Irvine Vics win 2-1 away to Johnstone Burgh.

LAST NIGHT'S RESULTS

Thorniewood Utd 2 Cumbernauld Utd 0, Johnstone Burgh 1 Irvine Vics 2, Ardeer Thistle 1 Troon 3, Arthurlie 1 Clydebank 1,Wishaw 3 Armadale Thistle 0, Blantyre Vics 0 Rossvale 2.