KNEE BOTHER

Aug 22 2007 Ayrshire Post

HIT man Andy McLaren insists he has no doubts that Ayr United are on course for a good season.

But he admits they can play better and warns they can’t afford to give their rivals too much of a start.

McLaren hobbled off in agony with a nasty looking knee injury after an hour of last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Brechin.

But he says the damage isn’t as bad as first feared and reckons he could be fit for Saturday’s visit of Berwick.

McLaren said: “It’s not nearly as bad as I initially thought. I stretched and twisted my knee giving me a real sore one at the time.

“I’ve never had trouble before with my knee but the physio worked me at training on Monday night and I’ll get more treatment on Wednesday.

“It’s still a bit stiff but if I keep it moving I should be OK for Saturday.”

McLaren believes Ayr need only one league win to get their season up and running. He said: “I think we can play better but I’m not worried because I still know we’ll do well this season.

“We just need a win to give us confidence but we need to do it sooner rather than later.”

Meanwhile, boss Neil Watt reckons Ayr are coming into a more realistic set of fixtures with back to back home games against Berwick and Alloa.

Watt told the Post: “I said at the beginning of the season that we had a most unrealistic start with four of our first five games away.

“I would be interested to know if there was any other team in Scotland with such a tough run.

“It couldn’t have been tougher but we’ve had a good last week, beating Hamilton who are flying high at the top of the First Division and then taking a point at Brechin which is normally considered a reasonable result.

“Naturally, we were disappointed that we couldn’t see out the game at Brechin but in the cold light of day it’s not a bad result.”

Watt made a host of changes from the team that beat Hamilton 2-1 in the Challenge Cup but says that’s what he’s paid to do.

He claimed: “My job is all about making decisions and those I make are with the best interests of Ayr at heart. I look at every game on its individual merits and don’t make decisions lightly.”

Standouts against Brechin were goal scorers Ryan Stevenson and Michael Moore but their good work was undone in the last four minutes as the home side equalised and then missed two glaring chances.

Watt said: “I’ve given Ryan a licence to step forward and have taken a wee bit of the defensive responsibility away from him and he is thriving off that.

“He is working hard and is showing an improved work ethic to what he had when I arrived. I’m delighted that he is becoming a better player.

“As for Michael, he is a proven goalscorer in the First and Second Division and I expect him to do well.”

Ayr now face successive home games as they look to pull clear from the foot of the Second Division.

After Saturday’s visit of Berwick, they entertain Alloa before heading to Forfar in the second round of the Challenge Cup on Tuesday September 7.

Watt said: “I am very disappointed about the cup draw from a personal point of view.

“After going to Livingston and Hamilton in previous midweeks I would have preferred a home tie for our fans.”

Watt says he won’t rule out a dip into the transfer market before the window slams shut and says a loan deal is more of a possibility than anything permanent.