Buchanan's says East End boosts oppo

Gregor Buchanan is hoping that he can be fit on Saturday to play against the club he left in May to join Dunfermline.

Gregor told the website:-

"I am looking forward to it. When the fixtures came out, it was a game I wanted to know when we were playing them. I had good times at Airdrie, it progressed me as a player and so I have a lot of time for everybody there who helped me. Points against them would do nicely.

"The manager and coaching staff are still there but there were a few players left including myself. There has been a bit of a change and there were a lot of young boys coming through. That is the kind of way that they are going to go by the sound of it.

"They have not got off to a great start but last season they were in a bad situation when the new manager came in. He and the players who were there turned it around so I expect them to be a very tough opponent come Saturday.

"Especially when I was there we always seemed to have good results against Dunfermline. They will take that as a positive when they look back on the record and say 'we have always done well here'. Other teams get a good buzz off coming to East End Park so they will be delighted to come up.

"I really don't know how they will come out and play. They have a few players suspended but they will definitely give it 110% in the Airdrie way. We have got to be wary of that."

Gregor has not played since coming off early into the second half of match against Brechin City on 9th August.

"It was a frustrating time to get a wee knock but when the x-rays came there was good news. That was a relief and I need to get back. I have managed a light training session and hopefully I will be alright for the weekend and be picked to play.

"I felt I was doing well and forming a partnership at the back with the defenders. When I am ready to go back in I will want to keep my place and make sure that we are winning games."

Gregor travels in to training with fellow centre back Lewis Martin since they both hail from the Falkirk area. That is a good bond but Gregor felt he had a good relationship with all the defenders at the club.

"I just seem to hit it off and it was a good start between the two of us; we were undefeated when the two of us were together . Whoever is in the line up must make sure that there are no goals against and that we are winning."

Not surprisingly, Gregor has found it frustrating to watch from the sidelines:-

"It is very difficult considering I am a bit of a loud mouth at the back. I am sitting in the stand with a lot of people around me and I have to keep my mouth shut. I want to be out there, demanding more from players and making sure that we are organised defensively.

"I am actually more of a senior player at the club just because of my age, it is scaring at twenty four years old to be one of the older boys but I spoke to the defensive boys about any sort of areas that I thought they could sharp up on. I encouraged them and told them what they had done well."