MARTIN McGOLDRICK admits the thought of playing for Auchinleck Talbot in the Dyslexia Scotland Junior Cup latter stages was the motivation that drove him on through the darkest days of his injury hell.

And the strapping big defender is hoping team boss Tommy Sloan will deal him in to achieve that aim when record 10-times trophy winners Talbot make the short hop to Blair Park on Saturday for their eagerly awaited semi-final first leg joust against reigning Scottish Cup holders Hurlford United.

Fractured metatarsals have caused the big defender to miss out on more games over the past couple of years than he cares to remember and it's incredible to think he has broken bones in his feet on four successive occasions.

His last cruel break occurring at the start of January in a Beechwood Park clash with Irvine Meadow demoted the 28-year-old to a mere bystander role right up until his somewhat timely reinstatement along with Bryan Young and Dwayne Hyslop to the Black & Gold starting line-up for last weekend's 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Cumnock.

Now he's keeping fingers crossed that all the hard work and patience has paid dividends and he is on the pitch with his team-mates on Saturday afternoon attempting to set the stage for another cup triumph.

Martin revealed: "I've been feeling fit and ready to make a comeback for several weeks but didn't want to make the same mistake as before and come back before the bone was completely healed.

"My eagerness to get back playing cost me in the long run so this time I sat on the sidelines for the full 12 weeks rehabilitation - an onerous thing to do if like me you are not a good spectator - and now with 90 minutes under my belt I'm itching to play ... if Tucker just gives me the nod.

"I can hardly complain if he doesn't given the team has won every game since I dropped out of the picture with Willie Lyle and Mark Campbell forming a terrific central defensive partnership so I can only hope to have done enough against Cumnock to play myself into the gaffer's thoughts."

The former Maryhill defensive rock is something of a lucky talisman at the Scottish penultimate stage given that Saturday marks his fourth semi-final in five seasons as an Auchinleck player and he's emerged a winner in all previous three clashes ... against Bo'ness Utd, Bonnyrigg Rose and Rutherglen Glencairn.

He added: "My record makes good reading but the very fact Auchinleck never made it to the cup final last season has our dressing room fired up to go all the way and get our hands on the trophy this time out.

"We expect a difficult time of it ... Hurlford are probably the toughest semi-final opponent we have met up to now ... and for that reason our playing them over two legs suits us far better than a one-off game.

"They have quality players dotted throughout their team with Paul McKenzie and the twin strikers Ross Robertson and Stewart Keane capable of running teams ragged, but so too can our frontmen David Gormley, Keir Milliken and Mark Shankland who have struck a rich vein of form with young Mark finding his feet in the Juniors of late and producing the goods every time he pulls on a strip."

The emergence of teenage sensation Shankland has been a godsend for Talbot gaffer Sloan as the Blair Park showdown is coming too early for injured hitman Graham Wilson (thigh muscle) as well as inspirational midfield battler Stevie White on the way back to full fitness from an ankle break earlier this season.

McGoldrick insisted: "It's a big ask to overcome the absence of players of their quality in a Scottish Cup semi-final but the younger guys who have stepped into their boots like Mark, Willie Boyd , Declan Lavan and Lee Cochrane have answered every challenge put before them and they will not let the side down.

"Nevertheless it's hard to fathom out why Auchinleck have been tagged favourites by the bookmakers for this week's game given there is precious little to choose between the teams and Hurlford have home advantage.

"The one sure bet is the tie won't be settled until the final whistle at Beechwood next week."

Meanwhile, those Junior clubs weighing up an approach for Cumbernauld United's impressive stopper Danny Boyle face competition from the Senior ranks with East Stirling and Clyde both reputedly showing a signing interest.