Stirling Albion get Dundee Midfielder on loan

Jan 9 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion boss Allan Moore has secured the loan signing of Dundee United midfielder Ryan McCord until February 3.

The flame-haired 19-year-old could make his debut in the home clash tomorrow (Saturday) with leaders Raith Rovers.

His arrival increases the options in the middle of the park following the return to St Mirren of Craig Molloy and with winger Nathan Taggart likely to be sidelined for a few more weeks due to a back problem.

McCord has been capped by Scotland at U19 level and featured in United’s pre-season friendly against Barcelona.

His only first-team action this term was as a substitute in the Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Airdrie United in September but he has been a regular in the SPL Reserve League, contributing two goals.

Moore said: “I have to thank Craig Levein for giving us Ryan for the next month. He is a player with ability but obviously we will need to see how he adapts to life in the Second Division. It gives us more options and keeps other players on their toes – it can lift the place to bring in someone new.”

Albion are still seeking a striker following the departure of Ian Harty, while central defender Kevin Ross has also moved on after his six-month deal expired and was not renewed given the improving injury situation.

Moore said: “There is nothing to report at the moment. It’s not easy finding a striker and a lot of the players who might be available on loan from SPL clubs would obviously prefer to go to a First Division club to stay full-time.”

U19 striker Jon Boyle netted in a midweek bounce game against Linlithgow Rose but Albion lost the match 4-1. More important than the result was the chance for returning players to get their fitness up and Andy Graham, Ross Forsyth, Liam Corr and Mark Docherty all came through unscathed.

That game was played on the Astroturf, as the main pitch at Forthbank was still frozen, but everyone at the club will be hoping for an improvement in the conditions to allow the Raith match to go ahead this weekend.

The postponement of the New Year encounter with Alloa was costly and Raith are likely to bring a healthy travelling support to Stirling as they bid to increase their lead over Ayr – who host Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup – to seven points.

No new date has yet been set for the Alloa match, which does not need to be rearranged until the first midweek in March, while the Raith clash was originally due to played on December 6 but fell victim to a frozen pitch.

The Binos boss said: “Raith are a good team but we certainly don’t fear them. We should have won at their place in September but they got a penalty in the last minute to make it 1-1 and we have a few players back from injury now.”