Renfrew striker Alain Kinney was supposed to be back training with his team mates this season but now a new plan is in place.

The 31-year-old is not unlike many Junior players in having to combine a part-time football career with family and work commitments but Alan’s own juggling act has several degrees of difficulty added through trying to accommodate a long and gruelling period of rehabilitation from a career threatening injury.

His recovery has been anything but straightforward for the Frew hitman who is fast coming up to a year since snapping his cruciate ligament in an Evening Times Cup contest at home to Girvan last June.

He revealed: “The operation to repair the joint in September necessitated doctors taking a graft from my hamstring to form a new ligament and I was warned then to expect a long slog of strengthening exercises before even thinking about a comeback so I wrote off the rest of this season from a playing sense.

“But I did expect to be mixing with team-mates on the training ground even if restricted to workouts on my own, however that’s just not been possible due to the fact I am required to work shifts in my day job.

“Not being able to get along to the gymnasium as often as I’d like is a definite setback and I’ve decided to focus on building up my knee in readiness for a return to pre-season training in late June.

“Anyway it’s not as if the guys are missing me out on the pitch because Renfrew have exceeding expectations and look as if they will consolidate their place in the Super First Division this season and a lot of credit is down to young Scott Morton who has stepped up to the plate as our top scorer and has formed a more than decent striking partnership alongside Chris Zok.

“Darren Jones is also back in contention for a jersey so I’m happy to be on the outside looking in…for now.”

Cut from the same cloth as Kinney but enjoying better luck on the injury front is bustling Cumnock frontman Scott Anson whose 23 goals scoring return this season has installed him as a firm favourite of the Ayrshire side’s fervent supporters.

Cumnock are not in the Super Premier Division title reckoning but currently sit a creditable fifth top of the standings and retain an interest in the West of Scotland Cup as well as the Ayrshire Cup in which they host the visit of top-flight rivals Largs Thistle today with Anson set to lead their forward line.

He insisted: “The manager John McKeown has changed the entire atmosphere within the club by instilling a far more professional attitude which has paid dividends in terms of results this season.

“Cumnock are a huge club and slowly but surely we are getting the fear factor back where opponents are expecting a tough time coming to Townhead Park yet it’s probably true to say we are not the finished article but hopefully that will be in place next year after the gaffer makes a few close season signings to further strengthen our dressing room.

“I’m fit and have missed very few games and my aim over the coming months is to do my utmost to help lift a bit of silverware which I feel is the very least the players and the management team deserves for our efforts this season.

“There was only one goal in the game when we last met Largs so John has warned us to expect another tough 90 minutes and we will need to be at our best to get through this first round stage.

“Another motivation for wanting to play well is that Auchinleck come here next week and everyone is desperate to earn a place in the derby game.”

In other top-rated Ayrshire Cup encounters, Glenafton await the visit of Kilbirnie Ladeside while Hurlford United have home advantage against a Kilwinning Rangers side boosted by the return after suspension of Carlo Monti but shorn of powerful centre-back Isaac Kerr because of a hamstring injury.

And word on the comings and goings front has Rossvale fixing up striker prospect Graeme Hearton from Petershill while a venue switch in the Central Second Division caused by ongoing ground works at the Showpark has resulted in Vale of Leven accommodating East Kilbride Thistle’s request for their league meeting to be played at Millburn Park.

TODAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm)

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Auchinleck Talbot v Rob Roy, Pollok v Beith.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Blantyre Vics v Petershill, Rutherglen Glencairn v Shettleston, Cumbernauld Utd v Renfrew, Shotts Bon Accord v Clydebank.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Lesmahagow v Thorniewood Utd, St Roch's v Larkhall Thistle, Cambuslang Rangers v Vale of Clyde, Rossvale v Wishaw, Forth Wanderers v Greenock.

McBookie.com Central Second Division: East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Leven, St Anthony's v Newmains Utd, Lanark Utd v Glasgow Perthshire, Gartcairn v Port Glasgow.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Darvel v Ardeer Thistle.

Central League Cup first round: Ashfield v Benburb, Carluke Rovers v Bellshill Athletic, Neilston v Johnstone Burgh, Yoker Athletic v Kilsyth Rangers.

Second round: Annbank Utd v Maryhill, Royal Albert v Maybole.

Ayrshire Cup first round: Cumnock v Largs Thistle, Girvan v Lugar Boswell, Glenafton v Kilbirnie Ladeside, Hurlford Utd v Kilwinning Rangers, Irvine Meadow v Craigmark, Muirkirk v Whitletts Vics, Kello Rovers v Ardrossan Winton Rovers.