Forres Mechanics centre forward Lee Fraser scored his first hat-trick in Highland League football last midweek against Fort William and is looking for more against Lossiemouth at Mosset Park tonight.
The 21-year-old bricklayer’s career was put on hold by an 18-month lay-off after suffering a serious knee injury after a training-ground collision with his twin brother Graham, in January 2012.
Now he is back. Fraser said: “I have had several doubles since I came into the Highland League three years ago but I really was delighted to finally score my first hat-trick in senior football.
“I felt against the Fort that I was finally starting to get back to where I was before my injury and I am feeling a bit fitter, although it is a slow process and I must admit I am a few pounds heavier now than I used to be.
“Being out of the game for a season and a half certainly took its toll but I do feel a lot better now and hopefully this will be the first of many more Highland League hat-tricks for me.”
Fraser missed the Can-Cans’ surprise 5-2 defeat at lowly Rothes last weekend and added: “Both my brother Graham and myself missed Saturday’s game, we were away for a long weekend with a few of our mates, looking back on it now perhaps we should have been there to help us get a win.
“It was a shock when we heard the score but hopefully we can get back to winning ways in a hurry.”
Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley will ring the changes with the Fraser twins and central defender Steven Fraser, who also missed the weekend trip to Rothes, available for tonight’s Mosset Park Moray derby against Lossiemouth.
Rowley said: We had a chat with the lads at training and they are now under no illusions as to what we expect from them against Lossie. I am definitely looking for an improved performance.
“If they didn’t know before they certainly know now there are no easy games in Highland League football. We got just what we deserved at Rothes on Saturday.”
Coasters co-manager Ryan Green is looking forward to seeing some old friends tonight, when he said: “I had 11 very happy seasons at Mosset Park before joining Lossie last term. Rothes probably pulled off the shock of the season on Saturday so we can take heart from that result. But they will definitely be hurting and I expect them to come out strong against us.”