KNUCKLE DOWN
Meet the Rangers star desperate to impress Celtic legend Scott Brown – ‘I’ll need to be on the ball’
There was another attraction in the dugout too
COLE McKINNON is banking on his loan move to Ayr United to take his career to the next level.
The midfielder, 21, turned out against Benfica, Hibs and Dundee in three sub outings for Rangers last season.
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But now his focus is on helping Scott Brown’s side keep up their Championship title push and he could make his debut in tonight’s delayed trip to Dunfermline.
McKinnon said: “It was good to get the deal done and I think all the parties — myself, my agent, Rangers and Ayr — agreed this was a good next step to take in my career.
“I want to get some games and hopefully do well for the team. It’s been frustrating not playing too much as every player wants to be out there at 3pm on a Saturday.
“But at the same time, I’ve been training at a really high level with the first team as well as dropping into the B team for a few games.
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“I’ve managed a few appearances for the first team now. I’ve played in some league games, in Europe and in a few different cups, too.
“There’s been a good variety of experiences, but now it’s about going out on my own and getting more minutes under my belt.
“It’s an important spell in my career and I’ll need to be on the ball and try to impress the people here at Ayr and also anyone from Rangers who might come to watch, really show what I’ve got.
“A first-team spot here is not going to be handed to me. I need to prove to the manager in training every day that I’m worthy of it.”
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McKinnon has had some extra time to get to know boss Brown and his new team-mates after the East End Park clash was put back from Saturday’s big freeze to make sure it went ahead.
He added: “Training with the lads so far has been good. It was great to get straight in there and involved.
I was convinced Rangers wanted to sign Scott Brown more than me - but then they signed me and he went to Celtic
“The gaffer is someone with a lot of experience who has done a lot in the game in Scotland and I’m sure I can learn a lot off him.
“I played under Steven Whittaker with Scotland, so that was another attraction to here.
“The club are in a good place at the moment, sitting nicely in the league, and there’s a real ambition here.
“It’s an exciting time, six months where I really need to knuckle down and try to play as many games as I can.”
Pars caretaker boss John McLaughlan hopes his side can benefit from a new manager bounce again.
McLaughlan masterminded a draw with Championship leaders Falkirk and a big win over Partick Thistle after stepping up following James McPake’s sacking.
Now he’s bidding to end Ayr’s recent purple patch.
He said: “It’s my third game. We’ve had the top of the table come and we’ve gone to Thistle, who are very good at home, and got a result there.
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“Ayr have been beating everyone, scoring a lot of goals and are the form team.
“But we’re at home, so we’ll implement our game plan and see where it takes us.
“I’ve tried to implement a style of play quite quickly and clarify their roles in and out of possession in the two games so far. I just hope we can continue that.
“Every point is precious, each game is different. We’ll hope to put on a good performance in front of the home fans again.
“We’re really looking forward to it. It’s two teams in form at the moment, so it should be a very attractive game.”
Youth coach McLaughlan has already cancelled a family holiday to Lanzarote to continue in the dugout, with Michael Tidser expected to be unveiled as the new gaffer once Dunfermline’s takeover is announced.
He added: “The club have said to me just keep training and then obviously you’ll take the team on Tuesday.
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“I’ve just got to prepare the team the best I can, then wait on that call to tell me the new management team is in.
“Until that happens I’ll just try and do my best for the team and try and help the players in any way I can.”
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