FAMILIAR faces are returning to Townhead Park as Cumnock try to build on a good 2016-17 season.

The Nock made two cup finals, one semi-final and consolidated their place in the Super League Premier Division with relative ease.

And manager John McKeown is hoping the players he trusted last season can do it all again.

He told the Chronicle: “I’ve resigned a lot of last year’s team so the goal is to some stability in the squad.

"This year we haven’t signed a whole load of players so I want to get some more consistency.

“We’ve only had one training session so far but I know Sean McKenzie. He earned a move to Ayr United on deadline day last season which left us a bit short.

“He has got huge potential but he is only 19. He formed a great partnership with Scott Anson before he left so hopefully they can kick on.”

McKenzie is one of three signings made by Nock with Adam Forsyth joining from Troon and Liam McLaughlin from East Kilbride Thistle.

McKeown added: “Adam Forsyth is eager to get his career back on track, you could say, and I’m quite pleased with Liam McLaughlin as well.

“We don’t have a friendly this weekend because we’ve started back a week later because the season finished so late.

"We play Cambuslang Rangers in a friendly on July 22 and I’m hoping to get another couple of faces in before then.

“I also want to get a look at the new boys and to get Sean back up to fitness. “ Competitive football is just around the corner and Cumnock start their season with three home fixtures against Kello Rovers on August 2, Auchinleck Talbot on August 5 and Glenafton Athletic on August 9 in the Ardagh Glass Sectional League Cup.

Nock finished top of Section Four on the way to the semi-finals last term but McKeown feels it could be a lot harder this season.

He said: “It’s difficult because loads of teams use the Ardagh as preparation for the season.

"We got to the semi-final and lost to Kilbirnie in the last minute so we almost got to the first final of the season.

“Because we are starting back a wee bit later, we’ll be using it as part of our pre-season so it will be tough.

"I’m not writing it off, I’m just trying to be realistic.”