ALAN Trouten has backed Kieran Wright to fill the Jamie MacDonald shaped hole in Alloa's goal. 

The pair played alongside one another during Albion Rovers' ill-fated spell in League One, with the Rangers loanee impressing despite the Lanarkshire side's relegation in 2018. 

Wright, who coincidentally missed out on a chance to play Alloa that season due to international duty with Scotland, made his debut in the Wasps' draw in Inverness on Saturday after arriving on loan to replace the injured MacDonald. 

“I played with Kieran at Albion Rovers and he was just a baby there," Trouten told Advertiser Sport. "He’s still only 19 but he has taken a stretch and he acquitted himself very well on Saturday.

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“He commanded his box very well and relieved a lot of pressure on the defence by coming for crosses.

“It is great to see him and he’s a confident boy coming from a big club where he needs to be and he will fit in very well here."

Kilmarnock loanee MacDonald's impressive Clacks stay was brought to an abrupt halt last week after he picked up an injury against Queen of the South. 

It was another bit of rotten luck for the Wasps as MacDonald had only been signed on emergency loan in the autumn to replace club stalwart Neil Parry, who was ruled out for the season with an injury of his own. 

But, the signature of Wright is seen by many as a real coup for the club and Trouten believes his arrival - along with Ben Stirling, Scott Banks, and Lee Connelly - has been a huge boost to the squad. 

“We were crying out for numbers and everybody could see that," Trouten, 34, continued: "We had some young guys on the bench but didn’t have that squad that everyone seems to have in the Championship.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Kieran Wright has been brought into replace the injured Jamie MacDonald, who impressed during his loan spell in Clacks Kieran Wright has been brought into replace the injured Jamie MacDonald, who impressed during his loan spell in Clacks

“There are teams who can pay a lot of money but we can’t. The gaffer has started to put a real squad together and we are looking the strongest we have all season.

“To get two major injuries to two mains players was rotten luck." 

Trouten's own injury Hell came to an end on Saturday as he made his first appearance for the Wasps since mid-December.

The second-half substitute helped his side to an impressive point for the second time this season at the home of John Robertson's promotion chasers, with an Iain Flannigan penalty cancelled out by a Jordan White's fine-strike. 

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“It’s been a long seven weeks," Trouten said. "So, it was good to be back out on the pitch and it was a good point in the end.

“We are on a very good run of form in the team and it has been excellent over the last few weeks watching the boys getting the points.

“It’s great to be back involved and hopefully I can help out and help us get some more victories."