Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
RYAN BACK TO BOOST TITLE BID
Airdrie agree loan deal with Pars
Andy Ryan’s has been told to win the league for Airdrie by his exteammate as he prepares for his Diamonds return.
The Advertiser understands the Dunfermline striker will finalise his comeback ahead of the clash with East Fife this weekend.
A loan deal has been agreed to secure the 25- year- old until the end of the season.
Ryan became a hero during his first spell at Airdrie finishing as the top scorer in League One during the 2016-17 before departing to East End Park for a five-figure sum.
Former strike partner and diehard Diamonds fan Iain Russell is delighted to see his pal back at Broomfield – and admits he has already sent him a rallying cry for the title run-in.
He told the Advertiser: “It shows the club want to go for the league title when they bring in players of that quality.
“I spoke to him on the group chat we have and asked him if he was coming back and he said he was. He was looking forward to it. I just told him to go and make sure he won the league now.
“He knows that he needs to be playing to get his fitness up. He’s the type of player who needs to be playing and scoring every week.”
As a duo Russell and Ryan netted nearly 50-goals between them during their season together and the supporter reckons the returning favourite has plenty more to offer .
“It will give the fans a lift but he’s a great guy to play with,” he continued.
“Although we didn’t manage to get promoted that season it was probably my most enjoyable.
“I got to captain my boyhood club, score plenty of goals, and you had Andy there who was great to play with.
“He obviously is a goalscorer but his hold up play is great as well.
“He gives you a good focal point to the team aside from a lot of goals.”
The 37- year- old reckons Airdrie should be in the Championship and hopes Ryan can spearhead the Diamonds to go one better than his first spell.
He added: “We made the play- off places and looking back at that team we should have went up. Airdrie have shown they are ambitious so Andy has a great chance to go there and win a league.”