FIRED-up Ayr United manager Ian McCall is determined to put former club Dunfermline Athletic to the sword at the third time of asking.

The Pars will be first-foots at Somerset Park on Saturday and the Honest Men will be aiming to get 2017 off to a winning start.

They drew 4-4 with Dumbarton in the final home match of the year.

Now securing three points at home is a top priority for McCall with both sides in the bottom half of the league.

United were held to a goalless draw by the Pars at Somerset Park on October 1 and on December 3 the game at East End Park ended in a 1-1 deadlock.

The United manager is looking forward to the match and said: "If we win our next couple of games we could be inside the top four - that's how tight the league is at the moment. It's a very important game coming up for us although they all are. We are home and will be looking to win the match. Hopefully we will attract a good crowd."

While disappointed not to defeat the Sons on Christmas Eve, with former Somerset terracing idol Ryan Stevenson netting the fourth goal for the visitors McCall could take plenty of positives from the game.

He said: "One of their goals was a freak one although we conceded a couple of poor goals. I was disappointed that we didn't win the game but was encouraged with our performance in the second half."

Meanwhile United fans have been given a major boost with recovering striker Craig Moore set to be back playing by the middle of the month.

The target man, who has been out with secondary concussion since July, is recovering well and took in the Dumbarton clash.

McCall said: "Craig is coming on well and will be back with us by January 16. There is a good chance he could play in the Queens Park Cup tie on January 21 which would be a real boost. It will be like having a new player."

Meanwhile the boss missed out on his bid to add a striker to the squad last week.

He said: "I had been hopeful of bringing a player in but it fell through at the last minute. But I am still looking at bringing in a new striker."