Andy Ryan has the fizz for Irn Bru games

No lack of bottle with three goals in two ties for confident new boy

Andy Ryan scored 27 goals in 41 appearances last year at Airdrie. There is no doubting his ability to find the net because in just 213 minutes as a Pars player he has four goals to his credit, the big problem for Andy right now is getting into the Dunfermline Athletic starting eleven. Speaking to this website after starting in the Irn Bru Cup, the 22 year old said:-

"It was good to get a start and obviously minutes under my belt. It is all well coming on but when the manager needs you, you need to be ready to go from the start.

"As a centre forward you want to score goals but on Saturday the main thing for us was to be professional and go up to Buckie and show them the respect they were due. When Dunfermline went up there last year it was a difficult game."

Andy signed from Airdrieonians on 14th August and he knows that from experience gained there and at Hamilton prior to that, that these can proved to be difficult games:-

"They are always physical and they treat it like their cup final when a championship team comes to their patch.

"It was a good game and I thought we passed the ball well in spells and got three goals. I am enjoying it every day at Dunfermline. I am learning every day, getting fitter, and hopefully getting sharper. I need to be ready when the manager calls upon me."

Andy was full time at Airdrie but he was clear that Dunfermline is a step up a league and a step up on class.

"I am feeling a bit fitter and sharper and the goals are coming which is a good added bonus."

Acknowledging that his fellow players are scoring too he claimed that competition was good:-

"We are competing against each other and on Saturday with me and Nicky scoring just gives the manager something to think about. That is all we can do."

The pair had not played together until Nicky came on with eleven minutes remaining on the last league match at Dumbarton, Andy complimented his co- striker:-

"He is a good player and has scored goals throughout his career. You look to learn from players like that."

The player who came through the youth system at Hamilton made just short of 100 appearances for the Lanarkshire club and while there he was loaned out to Brechin City and Arbroath. He signed for Forfar Athletic in January 2016 and after scoring nine goals in 16 League One games, was signed by Airdrieonians for the following season.

Andy has noticed and big difference in the Championship - the crowds and the tempo that the football is played at but he has played at this level before with Hamilton and knows that he has just got to get used to that again.

In the hoops of the Accies, Andy has played some big games in the Championship.

"I have played in play offs and finals but I am happy just to settle in well. I am just in the door a couple of weeks and I am not going to get ahead of myself. Obviously when the manager plays you in games like this, you just have to show him that if he needs you then you are ready. I am scoring goals as well which is an added bonus."

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