Cambuslang Rangers boss Paul McColl openly admits his waking hours are pre-occupied with thinking of ways to prevent scoring sensation Liam Gormley being lured away to pastures new but he recognises this is fast becoming a lost cause.

And little wonder after the former Celtic Youths signing’s stunning debut for the Wee Gers saw him rattle home a nap hand of goals in an 8-2 hammering of Forth Wanderers which he duly followed up with another four strikes to his name in last weekend’s 8-0 rout of Johnstone Burgh.

Nine goals in two games is a clear indication that the 23-year-old is enjoying his time at Somervell Park.

However, McColl reckons his shooting form makes it inevitable that Gormley will be hitting the road.

He said: "Liam had decent stints with East Fife and Morton before reverting to play without hitting the heights with East Kilbride in the Lowland League.

“The start of this season saw him play trials with various Junior clubs and it looked for a while like Kilbirnie Ladeside were going to snap him up.

"However, they decided against signing him and I stepped in with the offer of the opportunity for him to come and get a regular game with ourselves.

“The cut of his jib from the moment he turned up at our first training session was impressive and you could see by his touch and finishing prowess that he was someone of a decent pedigree but nothing could have prepared me or my No.2 George Fotheringham for how he has started away with the team.

“I thought Willie Sawyers was a special striker when he came into the Juniors for the first time at Renfrew but Liam looks as if he’s going to score every time the ball is played in his direction and has been nothing short of exceptional.

“To be fair he’s been helped no end by the clever work of Deco Kilmartin playing alongside him as well as the chances created from the flanks by Jamie McLeod and Hal Bohme but when it comes to sticking the ball in the net, Liam is in a class of his own.

”I’ve been in the Juniors a long time, but have never heard of anyone scoring nine times in his opening two games but then neither have I heard of any team hitting eight goals in successive games

”Nobody least of all myself is getting carried away with our past two results and we know harder battles have to be fought and won however having a striker who hits target whenever he catches sight of goal means we can never be written off.

“My only slight concern is that Liam makes no secret of his desire to have a crack at the Seniors again and I cannot help but think his scoring exploits will have a few scouts paying to take in our games.”

McColl took time out from is gearing his Central First Division outfit up for the daunting task hosting the visit of New Coin West of Scotland Cup holders Auchinleck Talbot in a First Round tie this coming Saturday, to say.

“ We are getting Talbot at the worst possible time - on the back of their Ardagh Glass Cup defeat by Kilbirnie - and no doubt they will be like a wounded animal and at their most determined and dangerous.

“No doubt they will come here and attack us so it’s important we work hard as a team and defend from the front to give ourselves any chance of causing an upset.

“We played them down in the Scottish Junior Cup last season and lost 5-0 down in Ayrshire when we were in a sorry state with just 12 players having made the journey.

"But I’d like to think they will now be meeting a Cambuslang Rangers side capable of giving them a better run for their money this time out.

“I cannot promise to beat a side of their quality but if we can keep things tight and Liam gets one clear scoring opportunity then who knows?

McColl lauded the achievements of his assistant boss who previously managed crack juvenile outfit Tower Hearts

“George has brought in some fabulous talents like Bohme and Dale Simeone as well as goalkeeper Ian Stewart and the sheer enthusiasm of the younger guys has rubbed off on our older heads Roberto Halliday and Mark Bishop who have been playing out of their skin recently .

“Look we’re not kidding ourselves into thinking we’re the finished article but there are signs of decent progress being made and I’ll settle for that at this stage of the season.

“Playing back-to-back cup games (Cambuslang have a Scottish Cup tie at home to Lochgelly Albert next Saturday) is great for supporters, but not to my liking as promotion remains our number one aim and we cannot allow our focus to be distracted.”