FOUR key players are give Ayr United a huge lift by returning to action for a crunch game on Saturday.

Craig Moore, Robbie Crawford and Alan Forrest, who have all been missing through injury in the past few weeks, have been back at training this week with no problems.

And Jamie Adams will return to the training ground later in the week.

Craig Reid is still suffering with a sore foot sustained early in the East Fife match but may also be in with a chance of a return, depending how he progresses.

Manager Ian McCall, who put the players through a mini pre-season last week said: "It's great to have so many players back, for the past few weeks we have been missing five or six players and that has made it difficult for us. It's good to have so many back."

Skipper Ross Docherty is delighted to have a much stronger squad going into the game against his former club Airdrie United and said: "It will be like having new players in the squad, we should have a much stronger side for the game. We look forward to the Airdrie match, like us they are a full-time club. They have some good players but you always look to get one over on your old side. I was there for six months and I've no doubt I will get stick from their fans as I usually do but we are looking forward to it.

"We have a bit of momentum after winning at Queens Park, although we weren't at our best and then beating East Fife. Our aim is to take the three points - it would be a good way to finish the first quarter of the season."