Lok boss so happy to see McCann back
POLLOK boss Murdie McKinnon is not someone given to public shows of emotion, but ahead of the Southside club’s vital Premiership contest at home to Glenafton on Saturday, he could not hide his delight over the long-awaited return of Lok fans favourite Gary McCann.
The 28-year-old winger sustained a broken wrist during the Macron Scottish Junior Cup third-round 0-0 stalemate against Cumnock and has not featured for nine weeks, but he is now available for selection, much to McKinnon’s delight.
“I was at Ashfield where Gaz first stepped up into the Juniors from juvenile outfit Arsenal Boys Club and right from the start, his potential was obvious. I feel privileged to have again worked with him as he developed further at Irvine Meadow and now Pollok.
“On his game, he is an absolute menace to defenders with his ability to run at pace with the ball close to his feet and I rate him as one of the best, if not the best, wide players currently in the Junior game.
“I realise that’s quite an accolade given the lad Leon Murphy of the Glens is a special talent as is the Rob Roy winger Lee Gallagher and of course Mark Shankland of Auchinleck Talbot. But Gaz has earned the right to be mentioned in that company and I believe him coming back into the side is a marvellous New Year boost for everyone associated with Pollok Juniors.”
McCann is not the only Lok player preparing to make a comeback after lengthy spells out as McKinnon also revealed hitman Adam Forde and versatile defender Mark Sideserf are in his thoughts for facing the Ayrshiremen.
“Sidey has been posted missing since the cup replay down at Cumnock where he failed a fitness test with a back injury and Fordy has been out for even longer, while the calf muscle injury that prevented Danny McKenzie from featuring in our last outing against Beith has also cleared up,” he said.
“Glenafton are thought to have strengthened their line-up since our back-to-back cup meetings with the return of Chris Dallas, Ally Park, Dan Orsi and Cammy Marlow, but nobody can deny Pollok are also in a much better shape in being able to call on a pair of Scotland Juniors internationalists in Sidey and Gaz along with a goalscorer of Forde’s abilities.
“Our only definite non-starter is Euan McNeil who suffered a bad knee injury down at Beith but an early prognosis is the damage is not as serious as first thought.
“Euan dropping out means young Tony Coutts from our Under 21s stays with the squad and I have to say he is there on merit because he has certainly not looked out of place playing away from home against the likes of Beith and Kilwinning Rangers even though he is still only 19.”
The Lok gaffer took in Renfrew’s 1-1 draw with Cumnock last Friday and spent Saturday afternoon casting his eye over a prospective signing.
“The job of improving the squad at a club of Pollok’s stature never stops and I always make a point of following up recommendations whether from the Seniors, Juniors or under 21 football,” he said.
“Having competition for the jerseys means the players know if they are not at it then they will not be playing and that mindset can only help us going up against a Glenafton team whom I expect to have the bit between their teeth after we knocked them out of the Cup.”