FALKIRK midfielder Scott Arfield wants to add goals to his game as he bids to help his team move off the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
The box-to-box 19-year-old has won plaudits for his impressive performances but is now looking to improve his game with an end product. Scotland Under-21 cap Arfield's only strike so far this season gave Falkirk their first points of the campaign as
he found the net in the dying minutes of the 2-1 victory over Hearts.
John Hughes' men are looking to secure three points today against league newcomers Hamilton in the hope they can climb off the basement, and Arfield feels he needs to start contributing in the box.
He said: "Goals are something that I definitely want to work on to add to my game. I was delighted to get the goal against Hearts, being in the last minute made it all that little bit sweeter.
"I need to get my head down and work on that. I scored three last season and one with Scotland too. I could even do with working on my crossing, my end product needs improving."
Hughes subscribes to the old adage that if 'you're good enough, you're old enough' and Arfield has benefited from his manager's willingness to show faith in young players. "I can't speak highly enough of him," said Hughes. "He has been with us since he was 14. Since then he has matured and matured.
"Everything you say to him he takes in and he tries to put it into his game.
"He is learning from guys like Russell Latapy and putting things into his game. He is the reason I get out my bed in the morning, him along with the young boys. In terms of passing the ball he is great and he is getting fitter and stronger but he still needs to work on one or two things."
Hamilton manager Billy Reid admits Falkirk have been a role model for his team this season, with both clubs committed to playing attractive football.
Reid is optimistic the pair will produce a positive advert for the SPL in a game that will be screened afterwards on new channel BBC Alba. "They are certainly a side who have established themselves with good football," Reid said of Falkirk. "We have copied them in a slight way. I have great respect for John Hughes and what he has done there. We are looking forward to a good game on a good surface."
The full article contains 432 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
