Albion Rovers vs Ayr United preview - Elliot boost for Rovers

Albion Rovers boss Todd Lumsden received an early Christmas present when Partick Thistle agreed to extend striker Christie Elliot's loan spell and he will lead their attack against Ayr United.

Simon Marriot is available after a ban but Mick O'Byrne's ankle injury keeps him out and goalkeeper Chris McCluskey has agreed to leave the club by mutual consent.

Lumsden said: "I am delighted that we still have Christie as he has been excellent for us.

"His pace has transformed our attack and hopefully he will show that against Ayr.

"We were really unlucky down at their place when we lost a last minute penalty and whilst Stranraer have crept away from us at the foot of the table, we are just a couple of wins away from changing our season."

Ayr are again without the long-term injured Martyn Campbell and Michael McGowan as they look to arrest their slide down the Second Division.

Manager Mark Roberts welcomes back Austin McCann after an ankle injury with Mark Shankland also travelling to Cliftonhill following illness.

Roberts said: "We should be higher up the table than we are but there is no point in just talking about it, we have to go out and earn the right to be higher up.

"This game could be a real slog on a heavy pitch so the players will need to get their sleeves rolled up.

"They will see this as a chance to drag us into relegation trouble so we need to be prepared to scrap."