COWDENBEATH will be hoping to get back into Ladbrokes League 2 action on Saturday after an enforced two blank weekends.

And with other teams playing and picking up points in Cowden’s idle spell the Blues are desperately needing to collect all three points when Annan Athletic come to Central Park on Saturday.

With only three points from their last seven games, Cowdenbeath simply must start winning games to avoid being involved in another end of season relegation play-off.

But manager Liam Fox has brought in five new players to turn things around and he will have them all in the 18 stripped for Saturday and experienced defender Kenny Adamson has also been able to play at Under 20 level after being out all season with a back injury, to further boost things.

So there is reason for Cowdenbeath fans to be hopeful, but really a win over Annan is needed to get the recovery in action.

Striker Dale Carrick, midfielders Robbie Buchanan, Matt Rooney and Liam Henderson, and centre-half Scott Rumsby have been fixed up and the manager is confident they can turn the corner for the Blue Brazil.

But Annan have been having a pretty good season until last weekend when they were thumped down at lowly Berwick, so the Blues must look to give them another defeat.

Mr Fox had his men in last weekend for an extended training session to add to the Tuesday-Thursday sessions, and he is looking forward to the Annan test: “You want to be playing games, but things just combined to see us out of action for the past two Saturdays but now we have to look to get back into full swing and hopefully pick up all three points.

“The tightness of the division means that if wins can be strung together you can quickly move up the table and that is our aim.

“Our new players are desperate to get in to action and I feel we have the quality there to win matches.

“But as I have said that we have to concentrate hard for the entire 90 minutes in every department so that the mistakes that have we have been making and have cost us results are consigned to history.

“Annan is a very important game and one which we can win."

With Cowden being out of action the likes of Berwick have picked up points as have Stirling Albion and Edinburgh City so Cowdenbeath need to get back on to the winning track.

Carrick will partner top scorer Kris Renton this Saturday with Buchanan playing wide while Liam Henderson will be in the central midfield area and Scott Rumsby at the back. Matt Rooney will likely start on the bench and look out for re-signed Jamie Sneddon replacing skipper Dave McGurn in goal.