COUNT US IN!

Aug 1 2007 Ayrshire Post

NEIL WATT has urged Ayr United to show their mettle right from the start when the gloves come off on Saturday.

And he will lead all 20 players on the club’s books to Dingwall for the hottest of openers against title favourites Ross County.

Four of Ayr’s first five games are away from home and three are against full-time opponents.

Boss Watt admits: “We couldn’t have asked for a tougher start and Ross County will be a good barometer for us. They think they deserve to win the championship and I believe they will definitely be in the top three.

“But we’re going up there in good shape with everyone fit — it’s amazing that everyone has come through pre-season without picking up an injury.

“We’ve a clean bill of health and although Martyn Campbell hasn’t yet played, he was on the bench against Gretna and came through two physically tough training sessions.”

Watt, who will take his squad to Aviemore for an overnight stay, was set to name his captain this week but was keeping his thoughts close to himself.

A 2-1 win over SPL new boys Gretna with goals from Ryan Stevenson and Gareth Wardlaw has boosted beliefs that Ayr can mount a strong promotion challenge.

Watt says: “Everyone in the squad can come into the team at any time. They are not a bunch of kids who will be grateful for ten or 15 minutes — they all think they should be playing.

“It will be tricky keeping the balance in the dressing room. It’s not easy when they all expect to play.”

Barry John Corr, who missed the Gretna win with head pains, is back and ready to press Mark McGeown for the goalie’s gloves.

But McGeown is set to start at Dingwall in a team that may well be along the following lines: McGeown; Swift, Henderson, Forrest, Lowing; Hamilton, Casey, Stevenson, McLaren; Moore, Wardlaw.

McLaren, who was used last season as a central striker, has started recently as a left sided midfielder.

Watt concedes: “McLaren needs to be on the ball to get the best out of him. To me, he played his best football at Kilmarnock in a wide right area in a four man midfield.

“I think people tend to think of him as a striker but most of his days, he has worked the midfield area.

“If he’s not involved in play, it’s a waste of talent. He needs to be used in an area when he’s going on the ball and in the second-half against Gretna, he put in three fantastic deliveries.”

Meanwhile, goal hero Stevenson has urged Ayr to go for the kill right from the off. He said: “Going to Ross County lTurn to Page 118