Teen title winner aims for his second crown

Apr 2 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

CHRIS MALONE tasted league title glory last month with Livingston Under-19s – and now that the young left-back has broken into the senior ranks he is setting his sights on claiming a second crown.

When regular left back Jason Talbot was crocked Livi boss Paul Hegarty had no hesitation in handing his place to 19-year-old Malone.

Since then Malone has started every match as the West Lothian club has moved to within just seven points of league leaders St Johnstone.

And he reckons there’s still time for Livi to reign in the Saints and go marching on to the SPL, providing they pick up maximum points between now and the end of the campaign.

He said: “It’s going to be tough but we have a great chance if we win all our remaining fixtures.

“There are 18 points still to play for and if we win them all, and we know we have to, then we could be in with a chance of winning the league, but in this division you just don’t know.”

In addition to Malone, several of his under-19 team-mates who have helped the club to successive titles have progressed to the top team.

Leigh Griffiths, Murray Davidson, Keaghan Jacobs, Andrew Halliday, Cameron Macdonald, and Gordon Smith have all progressed from the youth ranks to the first team and all have played their part in an exciting campaign for Livi.

Malone reckons there are plenty more ready to follow the well trodden path from youth team to the top team.

He continued: “It’s the second season in a row where we’ve won the league, which says a lot about the boys we have here.

“The standard is really good, not quite as strong as in the SPL under-19s but we’ve shown up well in friendlies against the likes of Rangers U-19s.

“There are quite a few of us now in and around the first team and I’d tip David Sinclair, Joe McKee and Craig McDowall to be the next regulars to make the step-up.”

Malone first broke into the senior fold in early 2008 under former boss Mark Proctor but he struggled to get a look in under Roberto Landi and was frozen out of the first team picture until Hegarty restored him to the squad.

“I don’t think the old manager had much faith in the youth players and it is much better now and it’s great to be involved with the team on a Saturday,” admitted Malone.

“I felt I’ve done well in some games but I did struggle a bit in the Queen of the South game, but the gaffer has spoken to me about it and I’m going to learn in every game I play.

“I have played midfield in the past but I’ve been left-back all season for the under-19s and that is definitely where I see my future. I don’t think I’ve got the fitness to play midfield and I’m really settling in at left-back now.”

Next up for Livi and Malone is a trip to Broadwood where relegation-threatened Clyde are scrapping for their lives and he admits it isn’t a trip he ever looks forward to.

He added: “It is always a battle against Clyde and it’s actually a ground I hate playing at.

“It is such a big park, open to the elements, like the wind and rain. It’s never nice to play there, but we have to go and win if we want to maintain our title challenge.”