AYR UNITED LATEST CROCK CRISIS
McCall could be without SEVEN players for Raith trip
Ayr are facing an injury headache ahead of Saturday’s top- of- thetable trip to Raith — with as many as SEVEN players out.
Skipper Ross Docherty, top scorer Craig Moore and key men Paddy Boyle and Jamie Adams are all definitely sidelined.
Alan Forrest, Robbie Crawford and Andy Geggan have missed training with hip victim Forrest a big doubt.
Boss Ian McCall is running the rule over former Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland who opted for Morton ahead of an Ayr loan last season.
And he is also eyeing an emergency loan to tide him over the next month.
McCall ( right) revealed: “If all don’t make it, that will be seven players out — which leaves us with only eight. However, I’m hoping that Crawford and also G eggan will be OK after training on Thursday. “Three players pulled up in training on Monday which was utterly freakish. Moore strained his hamstring and could be out for a week, maybe two, but came off immediately. “Boyle will be out for two weeks after hurting his ankle. None of the i n juri e s a r e serious b u t we ’ l l certainly be down at least four or five.”
Docherty pulled his hamstring in the IRN- BRU Cup defeat by Montrose, while Adams broke his cheekbone in the opening league game at Albion Rovers. Both face a further fortnight out.
McCall added: “I would like to think that these things even themselves out and we’ll be back to full strength soon.
“I’m looking at Shankland, who has been down at Swansea, and would like to sign him. If fit enough, he could go straight into the team for Saturday.
“We do need a striker and he has good pedigree. I wanted to wait until January for loans but we might need them now.
“It’s not all doom and gloom because we lost to Montrose in a game we should have won 6- 1. The players have started the season magnificently well, scoring 34 goals.
“It’s a long season – it’s where we finish at the end that’s important.”
David Waite and Luke McCowan were pulled out of the U20’ s 2- 2 draw against Airdrie on Tuesday night and will be in the squad for Fife. Leon Murphy hit a double.