McLaren has a 25-goal target

Jun 17 2009 by Kieran West Brook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

QUEENS’ latest signing Willie McLaren has vowed to score more goals than last year’s top scorer Stephen Dobbie.

McLaren was strutting his stuff at Palmerston on Saturday having been picked up by Queens after leaving skint Clyde.

And having played with Dobbie in his earlier days, he knows all about his popular predecessor.

McLaren said: “He was at St Johnstone when I was there and we’re both Easterhouse Boys. I wish Dobbs all the best at Swansea City and hope he makes it big.

“He scored four against us in that fateful Clyde game and was leading marksman in division one last season with 24 goals.

“But I’ve already set my own personal target at Queen of the South for this coming season and that’s 25.

“And I’m quietly confident I can do it.”

Attacking midfielder and frontman McLaren was a first team regular for Clyde who finished bottom last year.

And he was on the wrong side of Queens’ 7-1 thumping of Clyde last season and, while it was a dreadful night for everyone in red and white, he did score their only goal.

He added: “We got hammered 7-1 and that was my worst defeat in professional football.

“The only consolation was scoring a good goal from a free-kick but that meant very little.”

Pre-season training doesn’t start for another fortnight, but McLaren is already well acquainted with a number of players, having played with Bobby Harris, David Weatherston and Stewart Kean.

Last week, Queens’ Chairman Davie Rae was reluctant to disclose who his mystery man coming to Palmerston was.

But with the deal done, he told the Standard he was pleased with the signing.

Rae said: “He’s a good addition to the team. He’s quick, clever and a good passer of the ball.

“He can cross the ball like a winger and scores goals too. And that’s what we need — we need players who can score.

“We’ve got that with Rocco Quinn and now with McLaren too.

“He’s a good lad and hopefully he’ll make a big impact.”

McLaren becomes the fourth signing since the transfer window sprung open, with Derek Holmes, Rocco Quinn and Ludovic Roy also putting pen to paper.

And Rae is pleased with the progress being made.

He added: “It’s really starting to take shape now.

“We’ve got a couple of very good players in and hopefully we can get a few more now.”