KRIS DOOLAN had the welcome mat rolled out for him when he returned to face Partick Thistle recently with Ayr United, in more ways than one as it turned out.

Not only did the Firhill faithful give the Jags legend a rousing reception, but the home defence were more than hospitable too as they allowed him to score one of the three goals that saw his side claim victory on his old stomping ground.

He is hoping though that returning Ayr hero Lawrence Shankland doesn’t have such an easy time of it as he comes back to Somerset Park for the first time this Saturday with his new Dundee United teammates.

“It’s important to state that we’re not going out to play against Lawrence Shankland, we are playing Dundee United,” Doolan said.

“I understand there will be a spotlight on Lawrence coming back to the club he was at last season but I did that two weeks ago at Partick Thistle. That was what it was made out to be at Firhill.

“When I went back to Firhill I knew I was going to get a great reception before and after the game, which I did. I was always probably going to score because that’s what I’ve been doing at Firhill for ten years and I think everybody knew that.

“From our point of view, it’s more about playing against Dundee United the team.

“Fair play to him, he’s started the season excellently and I’m sure he’ll continue to fire in goals.

“I’m sure Ayr fans will give Lawrence the reception he deserves as what he did for the football club was tremendous.

“Sometimes players like that are irreplaceable. But this is about us as a squad and making sure we can replace those goals and that’s what we’ve done so far.

“If we can continue to do that throughout the season then the play-offs are definitely within our grasp.”

If Ayr manage to get a result against United on Saturday, their supporters may well be dreaming of even more than a place in the play-offs even this early in the season.

Ian McCall’s men are just three points adrift of the league leaders, despite United’s 100 percent record so far, and Doolan says that is testament to the hard work being done by everybody at the club.

“That has to be a feather in our cap, for Ian McCall and the players to keep in touch with teams like United even though it’s early in the season,” he said.

“We are probably written off year in and year out when we’re in the Championship but last season we proved we are capable and this season we’ve started well.

“Hopefully if we can keep everybody fit and keep the squad together then anything’s possible.

“Saturday has the makings of a great game. United are hoping to run away with the league and it’s well documented how much money they’ve spend so fair play to them. They are making use of the resources they can use.

“To get out of this league they are going to have to use them as it’s a league which has proven so tough to get out of.

“This should be a good game as it’s two teams doing well, two teams who are full of confidence.

“Even though it’s early in the season, these are big games. The fact it’s first against second is a feather in the cap of Ayr United.

“When you look at other teams in the league, you wouldn’t expect it to be us they are talking about when it’s first against second.

“That’s brilliant from our point of view and something the club should be proud of.”