TEAM skipper Gary McMenamin will most likely not kick another ball for Super Premier Division frontrunners Rob Roy this season.

But the 33-year-old midfielder whose arm is in a sling after he fractured his shoulder and tore ligaments in a recent game against Kilbirnie Ladeside is defiantly refusing to give up hope of leading his side to title glory.

Speaking last night, eternal optimist Gary admitted to pinning hopes on getting the thumbs up when he goes back for a return hospital visit towards the end of May.

He said: “I’m hoping the examination will show the shoulder has mended and I can get back playing for the team but the other side of the coin but if the joint has not knitted properly then I will probably need surgery to put things right.

“It’s just my luck to pick up a serious injury at such an important stage of the season but I’m pretty sure the guys have it in them to get the job done with or without me out on the pitch.

“And they are definitely not going to escape my whinging in their ears because I’m going to be at every training session and in our changing rooms on matchdays putting in my tuppence worth.

“If I do miss out then it’s a kick in the teeth, however the door to opportunity then opens wide for young Sean McGuire who is just 21 but has been excellent in our engine room recently and I’ve no doubt he would have played more regularly but for him being unlucky with injuries.

“People might think it ironic to hear me saying that but it’s the truth and I believe Sean is one for the future.

“He'll more than fill my shoes though he’ll have to step aside if there’s going to be a title presentation as I’m going to be there even if I have to hold up the trophy with one arm.”

The former Annan Athletic signing is resigned to sitting out this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with second-placed Beith and he’s not the only Rabs non-starter as suspension rules our midfielder Shaun Fraser and Kevin Watt is on holiday.

And further salt was added to these selection wounds last night after centre-back Danny Boyle picked up a two-match ban after his appeal against being red carded in a recent game against Pollok was dismissed by West Region beaks.

McMenamin insisted: “It’s a sore one to lose one player for a game of this importance so having to go without four feels like a punishment but we have confounded the odds on previous big game occasions and there’s no reason why we cannot do the same again.

“The gaffer Stewart Maxwell has worked wonders all season in shuffling his pack to find a winning combination and I wouldn’t bet against him coming up trumps even if it means giving the nod to long-term injury victim Craig Buchanan who is now back training with the rest of the squad.”

Kirkintilloch team boss Maxwell reflected: “Things are getting tense and points are being dropped so it’s understandable that Beith will be thinking they are in with a shout of being crowned champions by winning their last two games.

“And we are under no illusions that most people will regard us as second favourites down at Bellsdale but being tagged underdogs is nothing new and my players are looking forward to the game.”

Beith will doubtless be hoping to avoid injuries when travelling through to face Annbank United in one of three Ayrshire Cup quarter-final ties taking place tonight.

The reigning trophy holders…they beat Irvine Meadow 5-1 in last season’s finale…are keen to keep hold of the silverware but will nevertheless look to rest up a few regulars by giving game time to the likes of striker Thomas Collins as well as big stopper Mark McLaughlin on his return from a holiday break.

A similarly depleted Auchinleck Talbot host the visit of Ardrossan Winton Rovers with injuries ruling out Dwayne Hyslop, Mark Shankland and Martin McGoldrick, while a two-game suspension rules out top scorer Graham Wilson.

And the prospect of a vital league meeting with Pollok looming ahead on Saturday is set to force Kilwinning Rangers gaffer Chris Strain into ringing the changes for his side’s last-eight showdown against Maybole.

Pick of the Central League Cup encounters is the Celsius Stadium head-to-head of strong going pair Rutherglen Glencairn and St Roch's with Glens duo Tony Fraser and Ryan Docherty sidelined by two-game bans.

Also looking close to call is Yoker Athletic and Cambuslang Rangers going toe-to-toe at Holm Park, while the form book points to cup holders Pollok having the comparatively easy task of overcoming Blantyre Vics to set up a quarter-final showdown with derby rivals Arthurlie.

TONIGHT FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 7pm)

McBookie.com Super First Division: Maryhill v Girvan.

Central League Cup third round: Yoker Athletic v Cambuslang Rangers, Pollok v Blantyre Vics, Rutherglen Glencairn v St Roch's.

Ayrshire Cup third round: Annbank Utd v Beith, Auchinleck Talbot v Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Maybole v Kilwinning Rangers.