THE injury woes that have dogged Largs Thistle over recent months look to have finally cleared up as Stuart Davidson's men aim to make a winning, if slightly belated, start to 2024.
The weather-enforced postponement of Thistle's final match of the old year, away to Clydebank, and their first game of the new one, at home to Gartcairn, have given Largs some valuable extra time to allow the knocks among the squad to clear.
That, though, won't have been the thought uppermost in the minds of Largs players, officials and supporters on Saturday after their game at home to Gartcairn was called off just half an hour before kick-off, when the ref deemed the stand-side section of the Barrfields Stadium surface unplayable in the freezing temperatures.
First-choice goalkeeper Joe Wilton, who was in the starting line-up for Saturday's match before the late call-off, is among the players ready to for a return to action.
And the postponement does mean Largs are nearing full strength for this Saturday's trip to Barrhead to take on Arthurlie.
Coach Andy Scott told the News that the squad is in fine fettle and looking forward to the big fixture - if it's able to beat the chilly temperatures that are expected to last for much of the rest of this week.
Scott said: "It was disappointing to have such a late call-off for everybody, but the stand side of the pitch, which doesn't get sunlight, was frozen over - and the referee was worried that a player could get hurt.
"We managed to train for a while on the side of the park."
Skipper Scott Adam had a calf injury but he is now back at training, while Liam Lapsley is also returning to full fitness after a lengthy lay-off stretching back to August.
The Thistle coach continued: "Although we had not been on a great run of results before Christmas, we have been doing a lot of the right things, including creating chances.
"I felt against Troon we were moving the ball around a lot better, and with pace. We were quite unlucky with all the chances created, and want to keep playing on the front foot and putting teams under pressure, but we also need to make sure we all do our jobs defensively.
"Football is very simple and sometimes it can be over complicated - do your jobs well in both boxes and there is a 99 per cent chance you will win."
Scott says he hopes the disappointment of going out of three cups in the space of four weeks before the festive break could be a spur for Largs to push their way up the table and have a strong finish to the season.
He added: "We had some great results over recent months, including a great win at Jeanfield Swifts in the South of Scotland Cup, who went on to beat Elgin City in the Scottish Cup a few weeks later.
"To my mind, that shows you what the squad is capable of doing.
"We can be a match for anybody in this league on our day. Our aim is to keep improving, play to the highest standard we can, and move the club forward."
The festive season did see one surprise change in the Largs ranks with the transfer of midfielder Simon McBryde to top flight rivals Irvine Meadow after four years at Barrfields.
Scott said: "Simon wanted more starts and there is strong competition in the midfield department.
"It was hard from our point of view to dislodge the players who had doing well, so it was best for both parties for a change to take place.
"Simon did well for us since signing in 2019 and was an important squad player and we wish him all the best."
Weather permitting, this Saturday's clash with Arthurlie gets under way at 1.30pm at Dunterlie Park.
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