Dean McMaster says the Diamonds are ready to put last season behind them as they prepare to face Championship favourites Ross County in Saturday’s league opener.

In a torrid season beset by bad luck, poor form, and the worst injury crisis in living memory, Airdrie left it late to ensure their Championship survival with a play-off final win over Cove Rangers.

Newly-appointed vice-captain McMaster expects much better from the Diamonds this time round.

Speaking after last week’s disappointing late defeat to Alloa Athletic, the midfielder was pleased to be back in the starting XI following injury – and desperate to get the Championship season underway.

“I can’t wait. Obviously I’ve been out for a wee chunk of time now so it’s good to get back in – and hopefully a good opener on Saturday with a win!

“I’ve had a full week’s training this week, that will be good for my legs and hopefully I’ll get some more minutes on Saturday.”

Airdrie couldn’t ask for a tougher start with Don Cowie’s Ross County the first visitors to the Albert Bartlett Stadium. Despite dropping out of the Premiership via the relegation play-off, the highlanders have retained some key players and added quality and experience, making them the bookmakers’ tips for the title.

McMaster says the focus – as always – will be on the Diamonds.

“I expect them to be good, they’re one of the favourites to win the league. They’ve signed well and brought in some good quality players.

“We don’t fear that in any way. We’re playing at home in the first game, you can’t expect any better than that, so we have to go out and put on a performance – and most of all get a win.”

Although improvement on last season’s performance is the immediate aim for Airdrie, the Diamonds don’t have to look too far back for a much more successful season, having reached the promotion play-offs in 2023/24.

That experience was incentive enough for 22-year-old McMaster to crave more of the same.

“It would be clichéd to say we want to win the league, but obviously we set targets for ourselves.

“We want to go and get that top four. That’s a realistic target for us, we achieved it two years ago, but we just want to do as well as we can, get as many wins and try to get in that play-off spot.”

And although he largely watched pre-season from the sidelines, having picked up a calf strain in the first week, McMaster can see that the Diamonds are ready for another competitive Championship battle.

“I think we’ve prepared well. We’ve had a good pre-season, but obviously I’ve missed most of it! I’ve watched the boys and watched the gaffer take the training sessions. We’re twisting some dynamics of how we’re going to play this year, so it’s been really good.

“The preparation’s been really good, but it’s all about trying to take it into the league and having a much more successful campaign than last year.”

Player-manager Rhys McCabe is also raring to go as the league curtain-raiser approaches.

“It’s an exciting new league campaign, the boys are very positive and looking forward to it. We want to get off to the best start possible.

“We’d like to go and try to put things right from last year, in terms of where we finished. I’ve got that personal agenda to make sure that we go and do better.

“As soon as a new league campaign comes round, you’re itching to start.”

Defenders Lewis Strapp (shoulder) and Cammy Bruce (knee) will continue to miss out for Airdrie, as will striker Aaron Reid (hamstring). Rhys Armstrong returns from suspension.

Lloyd Wilson refereed four Airdrie matches last season – July’s 4-3 Premier Sports Cup win at Dumbarton, the 3-0 SPFL Trust Trophy win at Queen of the South in September, April’s 0-0 draw at Dunfermline Athletic, and the first leg of the play-off final, a 2-1 away win over Cove Rangers.

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