Farid can fire us to safety
McCall delighted to land striker for survival bid but new man sits out cup tie
Farid El Alagui has been backed to save Ayr United’s season after penning a short term deal at Somerset Park.
The French- born hitman ended Ian McCall’s long chase for a striker on Tuesday night by joining until the end of the campaign.
Now the boss can’t wait to unleash his new- look attack as United bid to preserve their Championship spot.
He said: “Farid is a quality player and provides us with exactly the kind of options we need up front.
“He’s a strong, aggressive type of player with a physical presence who will play along the width of the box.
“We’ve been crying out for someone to get on the end of chances and Farid will do just that.
“All other teams in the league have four strikers in their squad, so it was vital we got this done.”
El Alagui, 31, spent the first half of this season at Dunfermline and proved a big hit at Falkirk earlier in his career.
He scored 27 times in 42 appearances for the Bairns before winning a move south to Brentford.
He also spent spells at Dundee United and Hibernian after returning north of the border.
But Ayr fans will have to wait to see the new man in action, with El Alagui cup- tied for this Saturday’s game against Clyde.
Fellow new boy Declan McDaid, who starred in Saturday’s draw at Hibs is available, while it’s hoped Craig Moore will return from a back strain.
A place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup awaits the winner.
McCall said: “It’s a big prize and we know the pressure is on us as favourites. However, we’ve taken a lot of confidence from the way we played at Hibs and it was great to see the boys back to their best.
“Ross Docherty, in particular, was a standout against some of the best midfield players in the division.
“We put in a performance that showed the players here are proud to pull on an Ayr United jersey.”
League Two Clyde boast a string of Ayr old boys, including David Gormley and former Somerset skippers Scott McLaughlin and Jon Paul McGovern.
● Bookies make Ayr favourites to progress to the last eight in front of the Somerset faithful.
United can be backed at 8/ 15 with McBookie. com to reach their first quarter- final in five years.
The Bully Wee are 11/ 2 outsiders and the draw is 3/ 1.
Both sides are toiling in the league — Clyde’s last win in League Two came on November 19, while Ayr haven’t won a league game in the Championship since October 22.
Clyde’s last visit to Somerset was on League Cup duty in 2012, with Ayr winning 6- 1.
In the event of a replay, or Saturday’s game being postponed, the sides will do it again on Tuesday, February 14.