COMEBACK stalwart Stevie Mallon has vowed to dust off the rust - and is primed to boost Auchinleck Talbot's Scottish Cup hopes.

Mallon's season has been blighted by a six-month suspension. But the veteran striker ended his exile by firing in a goal during Talbot's 5-0 friendly win over Troon last weekend.

Now he's hoping that will be enough for Talbot gaffer Tommy Sloan to give him the the nod over regular hitmen John Boyle, Danny McKelvie and Robbie Robertson for today's Citylink Scottish Junior Cup fourth round clash against East Region visitors Bonnyrigg Rose.

Mallon is champing at the bit to make up for lost time in his team's Beechwood Park encounter.

But the ever-modest frontman steadfastly refuses to take his place for granted, even though Auchinleck's fervent ffans believe his messiah-like qualities can lead the Ayrshire cracks to an eighth trophy success.

Referring to last weekend's scoring return, he said: "It was a great feeling to be playing again and grabbing a goal was the icing on the cake.

"But my old bones are definitely rustier than they were before because I've suffered from aches and pains all this week .

"My general fitness is fine, but it is a huge step up to getting match fit and that will only come from playing more games.

"It would be a great boost to run out against Bonnyrigg, but I don't know if I will be included in Tucker's plans for tomorrow so it's a matter of waiting to see if mine is one of the names he reads out before kick-off.

"And if fortunate enough to get picked then I'm making no promises other than to give my all for whatever time I'm on the pitch."

It's in Scottish Cup arenas that Mallan has enjoyed some of his finest moments as a Junior.

However, last season's defeat to Lochee United still hurts .

That painful memory has him fiercely determined not to suffer another fourth round exit and he warned his Talbot team-mates against underestimating East Superleague strugglers Bonnyrigg.

He declared: "We dare not think ourselves better than any team after what happened against Lochee.

"But if our attitude is right and we play near our best, then we need not fear going up against anyone in a one-off cup tie.

Elsewhere, another of the 40-plus brigade harbouring hopes of Citylink Junior Cup glory is vastly experienced goalkeeper John Thomson, who will be part of the Rob Roy travelling party heading through to meet Mussleburgh Athletic.

Joining his sixth Junior club represents an astonishing turnaround in fortunes for Thommo, who had been coaching Maryhill until two weeks ago when he was sacked as part of previous Team boss Robert Johnston's backroom team.

THOUGH down in the dumps, he answered a call for help from Rob Roy co-bosses and former Maryhill team-mates John Richardson and John Mitchell.

They were left in the lurch when regular Rabs No 1's Kevin Bell and Terry Magennis went on holiday at the same time and Thommo duly impressed when he donned the gloves in a 7-1 hammering of Renfrew.

And he put pen to paper for the Super First Division leading lights after turning out in a friendly against Queen's Park which finished 1-1.

He said: "To get this opportunity to join a team looking a great bet for promotion and in the last 32 of the Scottish is the perfect pick-me-up after what happened at Maryhill "I thought my Junior Cup swansong had come last season when Yoker tumbled out at the quarter-final stage, but this Rob Roy side could be even more of a surprise package this time out."