BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Livingston boss Mark Burchill has told on-loan keeper Marc McCallum that the number one jersey is his to lose.
The 22-year-old joined the Lions from Dundee United last Friday and was pitched into action against Alloa 24 hours later, keeping a clean sheet in the crucial 3-0 triumph at the Indodrill Stadium.
It was Livi’s first shutout since August 18 and McCallum excelled on his debut, making a fine save in the first-half to deny a fizzing drive from distance by Michael Chopra.
The highly-rated youngster was selected ahead of Livingston stalwart Darren Jamieson, who had struggled throughout the week with a thigh injury.
However, Burchill has told McCallum – a serial loan star with the likes of Forfar, Peterhead, Berwick and Arbroath – that he will remain between the sticks if he continues to perform like that.
The Livi boss said: “Marc McCallum is the man in the jersey, it’s as simple as that. He plays.
“If you play well, you keep the jersey, that’s the only fair way to manage a squad.
“Darren [Jamieson] had a slight injury during the week and I felt it was better to bring Marc in for a change. I don’t think Darren was feeling confident within the injury.
“With Darren struggling, we needed a goalkeeper in. We needed a big talker, a big presence – and Marc was fantastic. Anyone who was at the game on Saturday will agree he played very well.
“Darren has always been my number one but Marc has come in and taken the shirt now. Darren will want to get himself fully and stake his claim again, I’m sure.”
