Rutherglen Glencairn veteran Andy McLay today admitted the big chill has been a blessing for his comeback plans.

The midfielder, whose last starting appearance was back in early October during a 3-2 win over Ardrossan Winton Rovers, has not featured since sustaining a pulled thigh muscle injury.

But the fact his Glens team-mates have only managed four outings in eight weeks has afforded Andy some semblance of breathing space, and now he is in line for a return to the fray in Saturday's home game against Kello Rovers.

However, there's every likelihood his comeback will be scuppered as the visit of the high-flying Ayrshiremen – third top of the standings – is also in doubt because of the winter freeze.

The 40-year-old said: "Without wanting to sound selfish I would say the weather taking a turn for the worse has come at a good time for me as I have not missed out on too many games.

"At my age, I want to be playing all the time and it makes it all the more difficult to force my way back into the team if the other guys are so much better off in terms of match fitness.

"That's proving not to be the case because of our recent postponements.

"But the downside is the team is now having to play catch-up with our fixtures and that's never ideal when chasing a promotion place.

"That said, our boss Willie Harvey has put together a really strong squad with a good mix of experience and young legs, so I still reckon our chances are as good as any of the sides above us in the table.

"Largs Thistle and Hurlford United have impressed me this season but, looking around our dressing room, I find it hard to imagine any of our rivals boasting the same strength in depth to cope with a backlog of games if this freeze continues.

"You only have to take our forwards as a perfect example because Dennis McLaughlin, Brett Agnew, Paddy Flannery, Mark McCarry and Max Asante make up a handful of top strikers that any of the Super Premier big guns would love to have at their disposal."

Andy admits to feeling his advanced years has made his return to full fitness more difficult.

He added: "I'm nowhere near as supple as I was in my heyday and neither does this cold snap do me any favours.

"But I have to say that Willie, Rab Torrance and Joe Price have managed me superbly both at training and in games to ensure I can still make a contribution out on the pitch.

"They know to give me a break from time to time and I'm certainly feeling better than I have in a long while, so there's no thoughts in my mind of calling it a day just yet.

"My dream is to have one final hurrah in the Super Premier and I think this Glens team can help me achieve that wish."

Another of the Super First promotion hopefuls, Cumbernauld United, look set to play their Emirates Junior Cup replay at the second time of asking this weekend.

Third-round opponents Forfar West End have provisionally booked the synthetic pitch at Station Park, home of Senior outfit Forfar Athletic, and the tie will go ahead there in the event of West End's own Strathmore Park being unplayable.

Meanwhile, on the lookout for a new club is ex-Queen's Park signing Michael O'Hara, who has negotiated his release from Pollok after growing disenchanted with his lack of match time this season.

The 22-year-old full- back is certain to find himself in demand at a number of clubs, with Shettleston, who had a transfer bid rebuffed earlier this season, set to be leading the chase for his signature.