Ayr United manager David Hopkin says he is delighted to be back to regular business after a Covid-19 outbreak shut the club down for a fortnight.

The Honest Men have not been in action since the end of last month when a Covid hit squad lost 1-0 to Inverness up in the Highlands.

The virus then spread throughout the squad so much so that the club requested their fixture against Raith Rovers the following weekend be postponed due to a lack of players available.

The Scottish Premier Football League accepted their request before moving to fixture to this evening to give the squad a

chance to recover after the virus.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Hopkin said:“The most important thing is the health and safety of the players, that is paramount.

“The majority of the group were back last week, with the rest at the end of the week.

“Just because they are all back now it does not mean they are fully fit and ready to go.

“There are a couple of them still feeling the effects of it, so we have to monitor them over the next few days and hopefully a few will be back.”

Although the club has not had any action on the pitch, there has been plenty off it, with both Michael Miller and Paul Smith leaving the club on loan.

Hopkin says it was important the duo got regular game time and that he is hoping to replace them with some new additions.

“Smith has gone out to Cumnock to play more games.

“Miller is in his final year of university and he could not fulfil the full time days,so we decided to let him go to part time.

“We have just signed Steven Bradley from Hibs, so hopefully he will be available for the Raith game.

“We are also still looking to bring one or two on loan as well if we can.”

Ayr face Raith tonight at an earlier kick off of 6pm,with Hopkin saying he hopes the unaffected players can play 90 minutes.

He added: “We have enough players for the game and they are looking good. Hopefully the players who have not had Covid can play the full match because we do not want to make early subs.”