Injury will prevent Andy McLay from starting out on a potentially record breaking 21st Scottish Junior Cup campaign later today.

The veteran midfielder will likely be stretched out on a treatment table back in Glasgow when his Vale of Clyde team-mates line up at Denmore Park in their first-round clash away to North Region opponents Hall Russell United.

McLay has been sidelined as a result of a serious hamstring tear sustained in a pre-season friendly match against Shettleston.

However the soon-to-be-43-year-old has his sights trained on a return to playing action and is hoping his cup debut for the Tin Pail is only on hold until the second round.

He said: "Our league form has been poor to say the least, but Ian Currie is a marvellous motivator and I believe like him that we can get a result up there and keep alive my dream of a last Junior Cup hurrah.

“Scottish Cup games are just brilliant occasions and I would love to be up there helping the guys out.

"But this latest hamstring injury has been a nightmare to get over so it was felt I would be better off staying here and working on my recovery.

“I want to be back playing but simply cannot rush things so I’ve already written off my chances of being fit for the Euroscot Eng Cup Final against Petershill three weeks from now.

"Though I hopefully can be pulling on a jersey in the next Scottish tie if the lads can just survive their trip north.”

The little midfield general admits to having a proverbial bucketload of Scottish Junior Cup tales to tell dating back to his 1990 debut in the competition with Stonehouse Violet.

He recalled ruefully: “Mine is a mixed bag of memories as I’ve never ever managed a cup final appearance throughout my Junior career, despite playing alongside so many great players and in a number of top teams.

“The crossbar has been well and truly rattled with five losing semi-finals to my name (Maryhill x 2, Pollok x 2 and Rutherglen Glencairn) and arguably the one that rankles most was being part of the very good Pollok side in 2009 that contrived to lose out to Clydebank on penalty kicks.

“I missed the Newlandsfield first leg when we absolutely battered the Bankies but somehow lost by a 3-2 scoreline.

"But I was back playing and scored the only goal in the return game at Millburn Park to take the tie to penalty kicks only for their goalkeeper Stefan Gonat to produce heroics and shut us out.”

He added: “Nobody at Vale of Clyde is harbouring delusions of grandeur and thinking we could make it to the cup final this season.

"But there’s every reason to think we might enjoy a cup run given a few favourable draws and everyone staying fit.”

Tin Pail goalkeeper Jon Connolly talked up his side’s chances in saying: “We are capable of matching up with anyone whenever big Ian can call upon his best side .

“He’s been denied that for the most part with Andy’s injury a real hammer blow and there’s no doubt we could do with someone of his great experience up North.

“It’s not going to happen so we need others to step up to the mark, but and having Joe Doyle back from a three-game suspension on top of Connor Stevenson declaring himself fit again is a real shot in the arm for everyone.”

Not forming part of the Tin Pail travelling party departing Fullarton Park this morning is McLay’s former Glencairn team-mate Gavin Ross.

He was surprisingly released in midweek by gaffer Currie as a prelude to him fixing up highly-rated Steven Fitzpatrick from Johnstone Burgh.

Elsewhere on the comings and goings front comes word of ambitious Central First Division outfits Rossvale and St Rochs making key strengthening moves to their squads.

Vale boss Martin Lauchlan has snapped up Stirling Albion midfielder Corey Irvine on a season-long loan deal while his Candy Rock counterpart Andy Cameron has landed Danny Irvine from Petershill.

And sure to attract a great deal of signing interest is the availability of Shotts Bon Accord left back Anton McDowall who has been placed on the open to transfer list at his own request.

Meanwhile, among other Junior clubs from these parts making an early start today are Yoker Athletic taking to the road to face fallen giants Sunnybank up in Aberdeen while Kilsyth Rangers are heading even further afield to meet Burghead Thistle.

The Super First Division pair are strongly fancied to book their passage into the second round.

However, the same cannot be said for Thorniewood United whom the cup draw landed with a daunting trip through to East Region cracks Bonnyrigg Rose.

Team boss Andy Frame conceded: “Bonnyrigg have a decent cup pedigree in recent years and are strong favourites but being written off as total no-hopers might just spark a reaction from our players.

“We’ve a much changed team this season with younger guys Paul Hewitt, Danny NcNulty and Mark McShane showing up well.

"However, away from home in the Scottish is where a touch of experience is needed and we’re fortunate to have the likes of Alan Fleming, Alan Brown and Davie Hamilton to lean on.

“I’ll make no predictions other than to say we’ll give a good account of ourselves.”