ALLOA Athletic boss Jack Ross has urged his players to keep believing in themselves as they look to extend their recent upturn in fortunes in the SPFL Championship.

The Wasps travel to Dumfries to face Queen of the South this weekend at Palmerston Park and while the gaffer admits it is always a difficult venue to play at, he is confident his men can there and cause an upset against the playoff hopefuls.

The 39-year-old reserved special praise for counterpart James Fowler and believes the Q.o.S boss deserves an enormous amount of credit for guiding his side through a difficult season.

Ross told Advertiser sport: “I know James Fowler well from our playing days and beyond that and to be honest it probably goes under the radar about how good a job he is doing there in his first management role. He got them into the playoffs last term, but this season has been even more challenging for them given the calibre of the players they lost in the summer.

"You just have to look at how those players have fared with the likes of Reilly, Holt, McShane all having a positive impact in the Premiership this season. It is not easy to go and replace that type of players instantly.

“This is a season of transition for them, but the fact is they are still competing for a playoff place and to do that within that transition is credit to James. It is always a difficult ground to go to and it is different astro surface to our own, but I think with the footballers we have at this club, it will definitely suit us.

"It was a always a place I loved playing at as a player because it is quite a traditional football ground. I have told the players to believe in themselves and if they do that then there is no reason why we can't win the game.

“The response of the players has been good and there is a growing self belief in them now, but it's vital that we continue to grow that. We know they will take some bumps along the way, but it's important for them to remain positive. It's ok for us to tell the them they are good players, but they needed to start producing performances that re-affirmed that belief and for me that started against Falkirk.

"We build on that against Raith and then we did it again for 68 minutes against Morton so it is vital we keep that going. We must go into each one believing we can win it and this one is no different.”

The ex-Hearts Under 20s coach also revealed he hopes to extend the loan deal of Aberdeen youngster Scott McKenna after an impressive start at the club, while the manager also backed new keeper Scott Gallacher to be a success at the club.

But Ross admits he will now need to move players on to make way for any more new arrivals this month.

He said: “There will be a few players leaving the club over the next week as we have to try to balance the books. I was hoping to have someone else in this week, but that one fell through. I have said before though I am not just going to add someone unless I think it will improve what we have here, but I would ideally like to add one or possibly two between now and the window closing.

"I think the two we have brought in so far in McKenna and Gallacher have improved the group and so further additions would have to be of the same level. I am looking to extend McKenna until the end of the season, if we can because he has fitted in so well here and is a big character.

"Gallacher is at a cross roads in his career and he needs regular football now. I think he can come in here and do well because he has a determination to prove himself as a regular number one and so we can only benefit from that as a club.”

The Wasps boss revealed he has a virtually full squad to choose from with only star striker Michael Chopra still sidelined, but the gaffer was quick to quash any notions of the former Newcastle striker being out of favour at the club.

Ross added: “We have a full squad for Queens with Michael Chopra the only one who will miss out. He is still nursing an ankle knock and he is still likely to be sidelined for at least another week. Michael is still very much part of our plans he, but he hasn't been fit in my time at club yet.

"He had a hamstring injury when I arrived and then suffered a nasty ankle injury in a bounce game. I'd love to have him back because he offers us something different and his quality has never been in doubt. He just needs to get himself back fit and then he will be back in contention.”