HE’S CRAWF THE CHARTS
McCall hails star man Rob for red- hot form
Ayr boss Ian McCall reckons watching Robbie Crawford is like seeing “a kid in a playground”.
The midfielder has been hailed as a key part of United’s red- hot start to the season.
Now McCall hopes he can prove his worth on the big stage as Ayr head to Dundee this Saturday.
The Honest Men are on Betfred Cup duty and travel in confident mood, with Crawford among those in the form of their careers.
The boss admitted: “I really love watching Robbie.
“We have a number of very good footballers and he’s right up there.
“At times it’s like watching a kid in a playground who just loves to beat people.
“He’s playing at the very top of his game and is one of a number of our lads who are in top form.”
Wanted man Lawrence Shankland will be another player in the spotlight as Ayr face the side chasing his signature.
Dens boss Neil McCann enquired about Shankland last month – before Ayr slapped a price tag of £ 250,000 on their prized asset.
McCall said: “There will be a lot of attention on Lawrence and rightly so.
“He was different class for us again on Saturday, but as I say we have more than one good player.
“It’s not an ideal draw for us but we’ll go there with every intention of making the last eight.”
Ayr’s squad is also set to return to full strength this week – for the first time in over a year.
Chris Higgins will rejoin full training tomorrow ( Thursday) following his long term battle with an achilles injury.
McCall said: “It will be fantastic to have everyone fit and available and gives us real options.
“It probably coincides with the return of our physio, Stevie Maguire, which has been a huge boost to everyone.”
Daniel Harvie’s red card at Inverness on Saturday could give fans a brief glimpse of United starlet, Finn Ecrepont.
Ayr will face Dunfermline on August 25 without their regular left- back and Ecrepont, the Scotland under 17, may come into the reckoning.
However, he would not be the club’s youngest- ever starter in a competitive fixture should he cross the white line. That honour is still owned by Sam McMillan, who pulled on the Ayr colours aged 15 years and 212 days when playing against Queen’s Park at Hampden in March, 1953.
Alan Forrest is the youngest ever scorer, aged 16 years and 321 days, in a Ramsdens Cup game – also against the Spiders.
United’s Open Day has been rescheduled for Sunday, August 26 after weather called off their first date.