BRIAN RICE insists there is still room to improve Alloa’s squad as they enter competitive action next week.

Alloa trounced Celtic B 4-1 on Saturday to round off a pre-season friendly campaign, before the Wasps host rivals Stirling Albion in the League Cup on Tuesday evening.

The gaffer made eight signings at the start of the window, strengthening the team in defence and midfield but is still looking to add to the squad where he can.

He said: “We’ve been back a month, we’ve got a brand new squad together and we’re trying to get them to gel together.

“I’m hoping to bring in anything that’s better than we’ve got. I still feel we’re about one or two places short but it’s hard.

“It’s a hard window to try and get players in but we’re trying every day.

“I’m happy with the squad we’ve got but I’m still looking to add to it.”

Rice made vast improvements to the squad as the window opened, bringing back Steven Hetherington, signing David Devine permanently and taking on a raft of players from across League One and the Championship.

The gaffer praised the incoming signings for blending in with the team quickly, with many of them impressing during pre-season.

“The new boys have been fantastic,” Rice added. “They’ve come in, it’s a different way of playing for them. They’ve got to adapt and they’re trying to do that.

“It’ll take time but they’ll be looking to hit the ground running on Tuesday night, it’s as simple as that.”

Whilst the bulk of the squad has returned to pre-season, there have been one or two notable absences.

Rice provided an injury update on a couple players who have been missing from the friendly campaign.

“I’ve got one or two still carrying knocks,” Rice said. “Scott Taggart and Luke Donnelly haven’t had a pre-season.

“They’re two key players for us and they’ve still to come back in the team.”

Alloa end their pre-season campaign with two wins, a draw and three losses, with their attention now turning to the 2023/24 League Cup campaign.

The Wasps have been drawn into Group A, which will see them go up against Stirling Albion, Ayr, St Johnstone and Stenhousemuir over the next couple weeks.

Alloa host the Binos on Tuesday evening and will be hoping to start the campaign off on a high.

“It doesn’t matter who it’s against” Rice added. “It’s the first match of the new season and we’re going to show up here ready to go.

“It’s the League Cup section, we’re wanting to get through it and we’re looking to go as far as we can but Stirling will be feeling the same.

“We’ll just make sure we’re ready to go on Tuesday night.”