LET’S GET BACK TO BUSINESS

United return to training

David Hopkin admits Ayr United are in Covid no-man’s land as they return from isolation this week.

The first-team squad is back in training today (Wednesday) after an enforced 10-day shutdown of footballing operations at Somerset Park.

Six of Hopkin’s first-team squad were among those at the club to test positive over the last fortnight. And that leaves the manager without his troubles to seek. Ayr will now face a run of four games in 12 days as they return to action following the lay-off.

Hopkin told the Post: “It’s good to be getting a ball out again but the Covid situation has thrown up a lot of challenges.

“We’ve got boys coming out of isolation this week and we’ll not know how it’s affected each of them until they’ve been fully evaluated.

“It hits some harder than others and it won’t just be a case of everyone coming back flying at 100 per cent.

“So it means we have a lot of work ahead to get back up to speed, but it’s just the way things are.”

Saturday’s postponed game against Raith has been resheduled for this coming Tuesday at 7.45pm.

It will go head to head with Scotland’s World Cup qualifier in Austria.

The SPFL offered both Tuesday and Wednesday as possible dates but Ayr were keen to get an extra day’s recovery ahead of the visit of Dunfermline on September 11.

United then go to Dumbarton to play Rangers Colts in the SPFL Trust Trophy on September 14 before travelling to Hamilton on September 18.

Hopkin said: “We’re going to be straight back into it with a hectic run, which is not ideal, but it’s a good chance to get some momentum going.

“The main thing is being back as it’s been a tough spell for everyone.”