AMBITIOUS Muirkirk boss Kevin Muirhead is targetting a scalp in only his second league game in charge against Dalry Thistle on Saturday.

The Kirk are due to travel to Merksworth Park, weather permitting, to face the only unbeaten side in the Ayrshire District League.

Muirhead is confident that the changes made to the squad will reap rewards sooner rather than later. He said: “I’m looking forward to it. Obviously we’ve had a total rebuild of the squad and we have brought in a bit of quality.

“We managed to free up some funds with players leaving and have signed three players who all have real quality and add to the team. We are sitting with three original Muirkirk players out of a squad of 19 so it’s been totally rebuilt.

“Looking at the Shotts game, when you sit on the outside and wonder what was going on, it was always going to happen. Lots of players were cup-tied and we were struggling to put out a team but we did that and fulfilled our duties.

“We played really we against Cambuslang Rangers in the West of Scotland Cup. We gave a great account of ourselves and created a lot of chances.

“When I look at the Dalry game, I’m looking to take something from it. I was just looking at Dalry’s recent home games and there is a possibility it’s going to be off.

“There is a chance for us to get a pre-season in now. We missed that at the start of the season but we are going to try and play as many friendlies throughout December and January and as we can.

“When the games start coming regularly in February/March we want to go into that flying.”