MORE than a few Petershill supporters will have been taken aback at seeing the name of goalkeeper Steven McNeil appear as one of the substitutes on the Springburn side’s teamsheet for facing Bonnyrigg Rose in their Scottish Junior Cup fifth round clash last Saturday.

And one would have to say their surprise was understandable considering the 29-year-old, sidelined ever since tearing his cruciate ligament in a Super Premier Division clash at home to Irvine Meadow last April, was thought unlikely to be fit and ready to make his playing comeback until the summer months.

So was his inclusion for the last-16 cup contest a case of him filling a jersey on account of the famous old Glasgow club’s current injury ravaged status?

“Not at all,” insisted the Peasy club skipper yesterday. “I would have been up to the job of replacing Mikey if called upon through him picking up a knock though there was little chance of that happening as he didn’t have many saves of note to make in the 90 minutes.

“If truth be told I’m not pushing too hard for a place right now as I feel there’s still a bit to go before I would think myself at the stage where I could be challenging for the gloves week-to-week but doing the team a turn if needed in an emergency is certainly not beyond me.

“My rehab programme is going well with training workouts being gradually stepped up and I’m well ahead of schedule in terms of fitness and agility so everything is looking positive and before too long I’ll be looking to the next stage of getting myself a run out in a friendly game.

“Being out of action as long as I have makes you desperate to get be playing again but at the same time I don’t want to come back onto the scene if I’m less than ready both mentally and physically.”

On the recovery trail along with McNeil is youthful prospect Alex Cassells, however the experienced shot-stopper reckons Peasy followers will not see team-mates Liam Finnigan or Fraser McGhee play again this season.

He said: “Lady luck has not been on our side as we’ve had more serious injuries in the past six months than most clubs experience in 2-3 years.

“Fraser is looking at a lengthy spell out after snapping his ankle in two places while Liam gets the results of the scan on his dislocated fibula this week, however you cannot help but think he’ll also be a long-term absentee given he’s still hobbling around on crutches and suffering a bit of discomfort.”

The big games show no sign of letting up for Petershill whose next up encounter is a crunch Super First Division showdown at home to league leaders Kilsyth Rangers whose declaring a willingness to listen to offers for former team captain and defensive stalwart Paul Doyle will have raised eyebrows in much the same way as Rossvale in signing up versatile ex-Peasy defender Kenny Hadden or indeed by Arthurlie boss Chris Mackie from placing seasoned shot-stopper Kevin Macklin on the open-to-transfer list.

The experienced Hadden featured for promotion hopefuls Rossvale at the weekend when they blew the Central First Division title race wide open with a stirring 3-2 comeback victory over long time frontrunners Cambuslang Rangers.

Paul McColl’s men had looked assured of a three points haul when 2-0 ahead at Somervell Park through Craig Hastings and Liam Gormley scores only for Sean Docherty to net a brace of goals and level matters for the Vale who went on to clinch victory with a Kirk Forbes penalty-kick conversion.

And it only made their third league defeat of the season all the harder to swallow for the Wee Gers to learn of closest challengers St Roch's running out 4-2 winners away to Thorniewood United through a Jordan Logan double and goals from former Shettleston pair Stevie Logan and Jordan Halsman.

All the leading contenders are in league action this coming Saturday with arguably the toughest test lying in wait for the Candy Rock in heading across city to take on Benburb at New Tinto Park while third-placed Larkhall Thistle can expect an exacting time of it away to Bellshill Athletic.

SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)

Scottish Junior Cup fifth round (2.15pm): Maryhill v Linlithgow Rose. Replay: Carluke Rovers v Gartcairn.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Beith v Auchinleck Talbot, Pollok v Rob Roy, Arthurlie v Glenafton, Kilwinning Rangers v Cumnock, Largs Thistle v Kilbirnie Ladeside.

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

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

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

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