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Cambridge United boss Neil Harris admits new signing Scott Malone is someway short of match fitness




Head coach Neil Harris has warned supporters to not ‘expect too much’ early on from Cambridge United’s new signing Scott Malone.

The U’s announced the arrival of the free agent on a short-term deal until the end of the season yesterday afternoon.

The 33-year-old, who plays primarily as a left-back, is well known to Harris from their previous spells working together at Millwall and Gillingham.

Scott Malone has joined Cambridge United on a deal until the end of the season. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Scott Malone has joined Cambridge United on a deal until the end of the season. Picture: Barry Goodwin

However, while welcoming the experience that Malone will provide to the group, Harris has conceded that the former England youth international in someway short of match fitness.

“No-one should expect too much from Scott Malone at the moment. Scott isn’t match fit to come in and play 13 games and play 90 minutes of games,” said Harris, who was speaking after last night’s 1-0 home defeat to Stevenage.

“It’s an opportunity to bring an experienced player into the building, that adds to the group in many ways.

“He’s unattached so he’s not been training for the last few weeks, but he’ll come in and add that experience.

“He’s got great quality on his left foot and he’s played 400 or 500 games at left-back at higher level.

“We think there’s an opportunity that we might need him at some stage over the coming weeks.

“It’s a short-term deal with an opportunity for Scott to come in and train and impress. And it’s an opportunity for us to have another experienced player in the building.

“As you can see tonight we’re so light on players, to not bring somebody in when we’ve got squad space available would be madness.”

By chance, Malone’s most recent competitive outing came against Cambridge during Crawley Town’s 1-0 victory at the Cledara Abbey Stadium back in August.

Malone joined the Reds on a one-year contract last summer but that agreement was terminated by mutual consent in November.



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