ROBERTO LANDI goes into the new First Division season against St Johnstone tomorrow confident his new-look outfit can become the surprise package of the campaign.
The Livingston coach has signed nine players since arriving at the club in June and is pondering whether to snap up Argentinian trialist Fernando Giaritz, who impressed in the 0-0 draw with Coventry City in midweek.
The club are also trying to t
ie up Hearts goalkeeper Anthony Basso on a one-year loan deal.
However, there is a distinct lack of experience in the squad, with Chris Innes and Tony McParland the only new arrivals with experience in the Scottish leagues.
Livingston have had a quiet pre-season, losing 2-0 to a Celtic XI and drawing 0-0 with Romanian outfit FC Unirea.
They enjoyed a 4-0 home win over Stranraer in the Alba Cup (formerly the Bell's Challenge Cup) last weekend with two goals from teenage striker Leigh Griffiths. Joe Hamill and McParland added to the rout.
Landi said: "I am happy with my players and I see their progress. If they follow what I say then we can be the surprise in this year's league race."
However, St Johnstone will have been quite happy with the way the Scottish Football League computer came up with the fixture, having beaten the Lions four times last season. They won 5-2 in both their home games and 2-0 on both visits to Almondvale.
Landi is expected to partner Jean Jose-Cuenca and Griffiths, with McParland on the wing and former Gretna captain Innes alongside captain James McPake in the centre of defence.
Among the other new arrivals are former Blackburn Rovers reserve striker Raffaele Da Vita and French goalkeeper Pierre-Antoine Martini.
The full article contains 300 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
