ANDY McLAY swears he is not thinking long term after making a playing return on the Junior scene with Vale of Clyde.

The ex-Maryhill, Pollok and Rutherglen Glencairn ace - nowadays 42 years of age - has been enlisted by team boss Ian Currie to help fire up the Fullarton Park side's ailing promotion bid and is set to have a key role to play when the Tin Pail attempt to pick up three points away to Central First Division rivals Larkhall Thistle tomorrow.

Andy insisted: "I would never have come back into the game but for the Vale pair of big Ian and Brian Kelly persisting with their attempts to get me to come in and lend my experience to their dressing room.

"What I have said is not to look to the future with me in their plans as I am simply taking things week by week to see how my body measures up to the stresses and strains associated with playing competitively again after fully a year out of football.

"Recovery is the most difficult part as I just cannot raise a gallop in the aftermath of games because my groins and hamstrings are so tight, however I cannot thank the Vale physio Walter Cannon enough for working overtime to keep me in working order.

"It's not taken me long to realise there are a number of quality players at the Vale who are blessed with young legs and boundless energy so Ian has tasked me with the job of pulling the midfield strings and giving them some direction.

"Being involved has been good for me - apart from my brain thinking my body is 20 years younger than it is - and everything clicked into place when the team served up a top-notch display to recently beat St Anthony's 5-0, however I'm old enough in the tooth to know tougher times lie in wait."

The veteran had first come to the attention of Currie when he asked the affable gaffer to take his 17-year-old nephew - also Andy - under his wing to help further the teenager's footballing development.

But the Vale boss - never someone who is shy about coming forward - seized the opportunity to get two birds with the one stone ... so to speak.

He revealed: "Young Andy is a terrific capture and has already caught the eye of Hamilton Accies, however I believe getting his uncle on board could be a godsend for the budding careers of young midfielders Conor Stevenston and Beau Longridge who will learn so much from playing alongside Andy.

"They can do his running and leave him to concentrate on his forte of keeping possession while all the time probing for the opening to play a killer pass.

"Full-time clubs would pay good money for lessons in this art ... and we're getting it for free."

The experienced Currie whose ability to unearth young and exciting talent has led to his name being touted in some quarters as an ideal candidate for the vacant Arthurlie managerial post, has also used his persuasive powers to bring gifted striker Paul McLaughlin to the Tollcross club for a third time.

He admitted: "We came close to landing him at the start of this season but the contract terms offered by Medda blew us out of the water, however he came back on my radar last month when work commitments led to him being put on the open to transfer list.

"My old club were reasonable in talks and Paul is now a Vale player whom we hope can assume the striking duties once held by Scott McManus before he stepped up to Clyde.

"Our playing creative stuff has been rendered pretty meaningless without a cutting edge in and around the penalty box and we see Paul providing it."

Meanwhile, the more than distinct possibility of his side's game against the Tin Pail being cancelled due to a frozen or waterlogged Gasworks Park pitch has seen Larkhall Thistle boss Dunky Sinclair's determination to get his players into some sort of running order - they haven't played a game in 2015 - tentatively arrange a friendly encounter against Petershill on the 3G pitch at Braidhurst High School, in Motherwell (kick-off 3pm).

And another attractive looking friendly contest is in the offing on Sunday after Rutherglen Glencairn provisionally arranged to meet Super Premier Division leading lights Irvine Meadow at the Toryglen Indoor Centre (4pm).

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES

(Kick-offs 1.45pm)

Scottish Junior Cup. Fourth Round. Arthurlie v Rob Roy, Spey Valley v Penicuik Athletic, Bonnyrigg Rose v Bellshill Athletic, Culter v Linlithgow Rose, Pollok v Cumnock, Clydebank v Shettleston, Hurlford Utd v Bo'ness Utd, St Andrews Utd v Broughty Athletic, Kilbirnie Ladeside v Kilsyth Rangers, Rossvale v Musselburgh Athletic, Kilwinning Rangers v Fauldhouse Utd, Camelon v Troon, Port Glasgow v Auchinleck Talbot, Glenrothes v Yoker, Newtongrange Star v Blantyre Vics, Lesmahagow v Johnstone Burgh.

Stagecoach League Super Premier Division: Shotts Bon Accord v Irvine Meadow, Glenafton v Beith.

Stagecoach League Super First Division: Greenock v Rutherglen Glencairn, Irvine Vics v Thorniewood Utd, Ardeer Thistle v Neilston, Cumbernauld Utd v Largs Thistle.

Stagecoach League Central First Division: Benburb v Wishaw, Larkhall Thistle v Vale of Clyde, Lanark Utd v Dunipace, St Anthony's v Carluke Rovers, Maryhill v Renfrew.

Stagecoach League Central Second Division: Vale of Leven v Cambuslang Rangers, Royal Albert v St Roch's, Glasgow Perthshire v Newmains Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Forth.

Stagecoach League Ayrshire District: Kello Rovers v Dalry Thistle, Winton Rovers v Whitletts Vics, Craigmark v Annbank Utd, Darvel v Lugar Boswell, Saltcoats Vics v Girvan.