IT’S often said that playing sports test one’s ability to recover from setbacks and in the case of Rob Roy midfielder Gary McMenamin never a truer word has been spoken.

The soon to be 34-year-old Rabs team captain was injured in his side’s Scottish Junior Cup third round defeat of Glasgow Perthshire back in November and took weeks to get back to full fitness, however his agonies continued as he then struggled to regain his place in the Kirkintilloch outfit’s engine room.

Finding himself limited to substitute appearances and run-outs in friendly matches had people of the mind that time had finally caught up with the one time Annan signing but he emereged from out of the blue last weekend when he proudly skippered the Rabs their 2-1 Scottish Junior Cup fourth round victory over Musselburgh Athletic.

And the word is he was one of his side’s outstanding performers against the East Region cracks so there is every likelihood of him holding onto his jersey for today’s last 16 clash away to Penicuik Athletic.

He revealed: “I’ve been training hard and feeling good for a number of weeks now without getting a look in at a starting place but the gaffer Stewart Maxwell pulled me in before the Mussy game and said he was going to need an experienced head pulling the strings so I would be in the team.

“They were one of the best football playing sides that we’ve come up against this season but we battled our corner to come good in the end and I felt happy to have made what I felt was a decent contribution to our victory.

“Obviously I’d love to lead the guys out again against Penicuik not least because it’s a measure of the job in hand that they are currently sitting third top of the East Super Premier standings while the Mussy team who ran us so close are down in third bottom place.

“Time is not on my side and I would love to make the quarter-finals again and try to make amends for my only-ever appearance at that stage as a Cumnock player in 2013 when we lost out 5-3 against Shotts Bon Accord.

“That was a real roller coaster of a day in terms of emotions as we started horribly and were 3-0 down at half-time but came roaring back to level at 3-3 and had chances to take the lead only to concede two late goals and go tumbling out.

“To get there again with Rob Roy would be a dream come true and on our game I would not be running scared of anyone in the last eight.”

The veteran is the first to admit what a difference a year has made for him and his Rob Roy team-mates who currently front the Super Premier as well as having 90 minutes between them and a quarter-final spot in the Junior game’s showpiece competition.

Asking him directly what has brought about this sea-change brought the response: “I believe the cruel lessons of last season are helping us stay the course better this time around.

“We were top last Christmas but then collapsed to win only one game in 16, however you would have to say the gaffer Maxi has taken steps to prevent that happening again by considerably strengthening our dressing room.

“The squad is a decent mix of young and old that provides strong competition for just about every position and on top of everything else we have the incredible Fraz (Shaun Frazer) in the form of his life and showing himself to be the best box to box midfielder currently playing in the Juniors.

“He’s a potential match-winner every time he pulls on a shirt as is Chris Duff who has been relatively quiet of late by his own high standards but hopefully he can pick up a spark ahead of facing Penicuik.

“Chris and Lee Gallagher on the other flank are two of the most creative attacking types around while in between them and hoping to profit from their service is our striking pair of Willie Sawyers and Kevin Watt.

“Willie came back against Musselburgh after a 14 week lay-off and did superbly so we have high hopes of him being even better for the 90 minutes under his belt and there is also great news about Kevin for our supporters as he resumed training this week after a three week injury absence.

“Whether he will be thrown straight back is up to the gaffer but he did it with me so why not?”

Rob Roy’s early season success (they won the Sectional League Cup) allied to signs of great promise has brought a swelling of supporter numbers that the seasoned McMenanin greatly appreciates.

He reasoned: “The players would love even more people from Kirkintilloch to get behind the team yet to be fair we have a loyal fan base who never let up in their backing particularly away from home.

“Nobody is getting carried away and we’re only focused on winning a quarter-final place and then taking it from there but it would be wonderful to have the good people of the town turning out to show their pride in the team.

“Winning one of the big prizes for our support would be a fitting reward though I don’t think the town would stop partying for weeks on end if the Scottish Cup was brought back there for the first time in 55 years.

“Today is a massive test but the gaffer and Gordon Moffat have prepared us well and we can have no excuses for coming up short.”

Making a splurge on the Junior transfer scene are Rob Roy’s landlords Cumbernauld United whose newly-appointed team manager Andy Frame has went back to former club Thorniewood United and snapped up no fewer than five players … Davie Hamilton, Chris Lennon, Terry Hewitt, Kieron Brown and Davie Buchanan.

TODAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)

Scottish Junior Cup fifth round (2.15pm): Penicuik Athletic v Kirkintolloch Rob Roy, Dunbar Utd v Glenafton, Auchinleck Talbot v Luncarty, Maryhill v Linlithgow Rose, Kelty Hearts v Kilwinning Rangers, Renfrew v Sauchie, Petershill v Bonnyrigg Rose, Gartcairn v Carluke Rovers.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Hurlford Utd v Beith, Pollok v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Blantyre Vics v Yoker Athletic, Irvine Vics v Cumbernauld Utd, Rutherglen Glencairn v Shettleston, Kilsyth Rangers v Shotts Bon Accord.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Wishaw v Bellshill Athletic, Greenock v Benburb, Neilston v Lesmahagow, Thorniewood Utd v St Roch's, Vale of Clyde v Forth Wanderers, Larkhall Thistle v Johnstone Burgh, Cambuslang Rangers v Rosssvale.

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

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League: Annbank Utd v Darvel, Ardrossan Winton Rovers v Dalry Thistle, Craigmark v Lugar Boswell, Kello Rovers v Saltcoats Vics, Muirkirk v Maybole, Whitletts Vics v Ardeer Thistle.