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Brora Rangers striker James Wallace signs new deal with Highland League club as he feels back to his best after struggling with injury for two years





JAMES Wallace says he has put his injury nightmare behind him and is looking to help fire Brora Rangers towards challenging for the Highland League title.

James Wallace. Picture: Callum Mackay.
James Wallace. Picture: Callum Mackay.

The 24-year-old from Culloden has committed his future to the Cattachs after agreeing a new deal which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.

The forward has made a big contribution to Brora Rangers so far this season, finding the net 11 times from the club’s 28 matches this campaign.

He is delighted to have found the form after a long term injury which kept him out of action for the majority of his first two seasons after joining from Championship club Greenock Morton in 2021.

Wallace tore his right cruciate in the first game of the 2021-22 season and recurring problems meant he spent over two years out of action.

He returned playing last season, but has really found his form this campaign

Wallace, who works as a painter and decorator, says he is now over the injury which kept him out of the game for so long.

He is looking to repay the faith Brora Rangers have shown in him.

“I only got around playing in October last season after being injured for the first two seasons,” he said.

“I am enjoying getting back to playing regular games.

“After tearing my right cruciate, I needed two operations and I was out for around 26 months.

“It was a long slog with the rehabilitation, I got the operations and I had to work on my own in the gym and with the physio.

“It was a dark time, but thankfully I am out the other end and I am seeing the benefits now.”

Wallace arrived from Greenock Morton in 2021, after previously being at Ross County. During his time with Morton, he also spent time on loan at Dumbarton.

He said it was easy to agree a new deal with Brora Rangers as he says the club have looked after him well during his injury problems.

He now wants to repay them on the pitch.

He said: “I am very happy to sign a new deal and it was a no brainer to agree to it.

“They approached me and said they wanted to extend the deal. I have been there since 2021 and having been there for four years, I can now look forward to the next two.

“The team has a good blend with youngsters and a lot of seasoned professionals too. It is a good mix, everyone really gets on and it is a positive place to be at the moment.

“Last year coming back in, it took me a while to get back up to speed. Having the full pre-season has helped me hit the ground running at the start of the season.

“I am hoping to carry that into the rest of the season and the two years after.”

The Cattachs will be hoping to play their first game of 2025 this weekend after the Highland League suffered a complete wipeout in the previous two weeks due to weather conditions.

However, they will be without George Robesten and Andrew Macleod who have returned to their parent club Ross County.

Brora Rangers head to Inverurie Locos on Saturday looking to chase down league leaders Brechin City who are two points in front.

It has been an impressive start for Brora Rangers, which included winning the North of Scotland Cup final in October.

Wallace says the squad are confident they can finish the season as champions, but knows maintaining consistency with a good run of wins will be key.

He said: “Everyone knows and believes in the quality we have.

“There have been a few slip-ups in the first half season, but on the whole it has been a very good start.

“We are right up there with Brechin. We are only two points away from them and if we can do our job, we can be right up there come the end of April and May.

“We will look to carry on that form against Locos, but it is always difficult down there.”


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