Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Diamonds striker relishing full-time return
Andy Ryan believes fulltime football will drive him on to become a better player.
The ex- Hamilton Accies kid has meandered his way to Airdrieonians via several loan spells at Brechin City, Arbroath and Forfar Athletic.
But the 21- year- old seems to have found the perfect fit at New Broomfield after notching up five goals in eight outings so far this season.
And he insists that finding a full-time football landing spot is allowing him to kick on again.
Ryan told the Advertiser: “I’m definitely appreciating full-time football.
“I think I lost my way at Hamilton with injuries and leaving was a hard decision.
“It was a big call going part-time; I had to mature a wee bit and start enjoying football again.
“It takes a lot of willpower to keep doing stuff in your own time.
“It’s a bit of a reality check and it makes you push that bit harder to get back to full-time football.
“When the gaffer [ Kevin McBride] contacted me, he sold it to me in terms of what he wanted to do and the way he wanted to play.”
After scoring nine goals in 16 games for Forfar in the second half of last term, Ryan has picked up in a Diamonds jersey from where he left off at Station Park.
And he is relieved he has started scoring early for his new club.
He added: “When you come to a new club it’s always important to get your first goal as quickly as possible.
“The longer it drags on, the harder you try and it just doesn’t happen for you.
“You always need to go into games believing in your own ability and as long as the goals keep coming I’ll be even happier.
“I think I could have had a few more. We create a lot of chances and as a centre-forward that’s all you can ask.”
Ryan is also enjoying playing alongside Iain Russell in attack.
And he reckons having a partnership with Russell gives the team more options.
He revealed: “I feel earlier in the season when we’ve been one up top it has been me against two centre-backs.
“I’ve been flicking the ball on to nobody.
“But with Iain being there it gives us an extra option and dimension.
“We can switch about and there is movement which occupies defenders.
“It’s good playing up front with him – he probably gives you a bit of earache as well!
“He is a good player and brings experience and quality to the team.”