NEILSTON co-manager Derek Carson hopes loan star Adam Forde can have a lasting impact on the club.

The talented striker rejoined The Farmer’s Boys in November after parent club Pollok withdrew from competitive action this season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Forde previously spent time on loan at the Brig o’Lea in the 2013/14 season, while he was on the books at Stranraer, and has since enjoyed a prolific career in Junior football for Kilbirnie Ladeside and Pollok.

His return to Neilston has bolstered Carson’s already powerful forward line, with six goals to his name already this season.

And, as well as that goalscoring instinct, it is Forde’s workrate that has caught the eye.

Carson told Barrhead Sport: “Apart from the free-kick against Greenock, his last three or four goals have all been in the six-yard box.

“We preach to our strikers to play within the width of the 18-yard box and his energy levels are brilliant.

“He has been struggling with a sore ankle but he said he wanted to play in the last couple of games and then rest up over the festive break.”

Neilston are currently top of Conference B in the West of Scotland Football League after winning eight games from eight.

Carson’s team started the season in emphatic form, with big victories coming against the likes of Lugar Boswell Thistle, Irvine Victoria and Vale of Clyde.

In recent weeks, they have had to find a different way to win as they ground out a 1-0 success against Greenock and came from behind to beat Carluke before the Christmas break.

However, Carson said he is delighted that his troops are showing they have more about them than just scoring goals.

He added: “We know that we can score goals, it’s just about keeping the door shut at the back.

“The game against Greenock was my favourite performance because it was only 1-0 but the way the boys played and limited them to one shot and the way we battled was brilliant.

“Against Carluke, they’ve shown they can win after going behind. We conceded two penalties but it was a great performance and was all about getting three points.”

Carson is now looking forward to returning to action at Wishaw on Saturday and is optimistic about having plenty of options to choose from.

He said: “We should hopefully have our full strength squad back, which will only benefit us.”