Stuart Kettlewell speaks to the press prior to East Fife Viaplay Cup group stage match.
Victory over East Fife would secure our first step into the next round of the Viaplay Cup, and manager Stuart Kettlewell is keen for the players to earn ‘opportunities for success.’
“Every single game we have played, we have approached it with full focus and the intent to go and try to win the group”, said Kettlewell.
“I was watching East Fife on Tuesday and by no means will it be an easy game. They made things very tough for Queen of the South, I thought they grew in confidence in the second half, so I’ve got a pretty decent indication of what they are, but it doesn’t change the task for us.
“We know we have to go and try to win the game. We just have to make sure we are prepared and we look forward to the game and playing at home again.
“Winning the group is important, it makes you one of the seeded teams, but either way I think as a professional each week, every game you go into, whatever the competition, I always just see it as an opportunity for success.”
The prospect of clinching silverware is always at the centre of supporters expectations, but Kettlewell is determined to instil a resolved mentality into the squad.
“How many opportunities do you get in your career to get a proper cup run and have that opportunity of silverware.
“I remember a few seasons back, Motherwell under Stephen Robinson, two cup finals, and you look at the buzz and the real positivity that gives a football club.
“I was fortunate as a player to win silverware, win promotions, and you never forget them in your career.
“So, whether that is this cup competition, whether it is the league campaign, it is so important we get a group of players that have that mindset of always trying to add something to their playing record, and I think that is a driver in itself.”
Kettlewell will however have his options limited ahead of this weekends encounter, with a few injury concerns in the squad.
“Joe [Efford] has been struggling with another injury, he came off the park in one of the pre-season games, we’ve been trying to get him a bit of game time, trying to get him back up to speed, but that one has been really frustrating with Joe.
“Joe has an injury, we have doubts this weekend over Jon Obika, Stephen O’Donnell is a doubt, just little things they’ve picked up from last weekend. We’ll assess them, we’ll monitor them and we will see how they are this weekend.
With the opening weekend of the forthcoming Premiership campaign nearing, Kettlewell is still looking for new additions to the team.
“We know we still have to strengthen our squad, we still have to give ourselves more options within the group, there is no secret in that.
“I think a lot of clubs are sitting in the exact same position, with over four weeks to go in the window, so yeah there is still time, but you want to get there as quick as you possibly can.
“We have to start with that clarity of message, and have that understanding of what Plan A and Plan B looks like for us as a football club, but it is safe to say we have been working towards that right throughout pre-season.
