Tuesday night cannot come soon enough for Connor Cameron.
The summer signing has caught the eye of the Stranraer faithful since making the switch from Renfrew.
However, in just his second start for the club, away at Alloa, he suffered a serious head injury, which ruled him out.
Now, he has been given the all-clear to return and is hoping to be involved when Celtic B make their way to The LIME Stadium at Stair Park.
He said: “I suffered a concussion and have been out for three weeks due to protocol.
“It has been rubbish but I should be back on Tuesday.
“I have been counting down the days and it has been long.
“I don’t remember the actual impact at Alloa.
“I just remember waking up on the bench!
“It was very weird and you don’t remember a lot due to loss of memory.
“The next day, you remember everything and it was all fine.
“I have seen it back a few times and had to show it to a few people as well.”
Cameron spent last season with Renfrew in the West of Scotland Football League under the management of former Stranraer midfielder Ryan Borris.
The Stranraer management team are no strangers to bringing in players from the West of Scotland Football League and soon Cameron was on their radar.
He said: “We played a friendly on a Monday night and I had a good game.
“From then, the manager had come down and watched a couple of games.
“He asked if I would be interested in coming in and, of course, it sounded good to me.
“Ryan Borris is good friends with Chris so I talked to him about it and he said it would be great for me.
“I thought it was the best move for me.”
Celtic B make the trip down the A77 looking to continue their fine form in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
They enjoyed a 3-1 win at Hamilton Academical and held a two-goal lead over Dumbarton before the game ultimately finished 2-2.
However, Stranraer also come into the game with some form.
Lewis Dobbie’s double saw the Blues overcome Kelty Hearts to make it four games undefeated in all competitions.
Cameron was among those cheering on Stranraer from the sidelines, alongside Beejay Coll, and was impressed by his side’s showing.
He said: “It was great from the start.
“We took the game to them and you cannot complain, it was a brilliant result.”
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Kelty Hearts (H): 2-0 (Dobbie x2)
- WIN v Gala Fairydean Rovers (H): 3-0 (Cleland, Traynor and Hughes)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 2-2 (Dobbie and Dunne)
- WIN v Spartans (H): 1-0 (McLuckie)
- LOSS v Alloa Athletic (A): 2-1 (Trialist)
Celtic B
- DRAW v Auchinleck Talbot (H): 2-2 (Turley x2)
- DRAW v Dumbarton (A): 2-2 (Clearie and Hatton)
- WIN v Cumnock Juniors (H): 4-1 (McArdle, Daly x2 and Clearie)
- WIN v Dalbeattie Star (A): 1-5 (Daly, Turley, Clearie x2 and Keenan)
- WIN v Hamilton Academical (A): 1-3 (Clearie, Dargie and Hatton)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Kelty Hearts: Currie, Dunne, Ecrepont, McLuckie, Gillie, Quigg, Traynor (Dolan 71), Bruce (Stuart 62), McManus (Hughes 71), Dobbie (Cleland 82), Mason (Trialist 82).
Not used: Nair, Lynch, Healy and Henderson.
Celtic B
Lineup v Auchinleck Talbot: Shaw, Sedwell, Cameron, English, Dembele, Daly, Turley, Meechan (Anderson 72), Obidiwe (Daly 72), Clearie, Keenan (Watt 84).
Not used: Forrester, Harris, Lyall and Mulgrew.
Five facts
- Lewis Dobbie scored a double on Saturday but the wait for a Stranraer hat-trick at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park goes on. The last one home fans had to cheer was when Craig Malcolm scored four in a 7-1 win over Spartans on August 16, 2016.
- Saturday marked appearance number 50 for Daniel McManus. The midfielder has made 36 starts and 14 substitute appearances. He has also scored three goals in that time.
- If Aaron Quigg plays 63 minutes on Tuesday night, he will be the first player in the squad to pass 1,000 minutes for this season. He is also one of six players – alongside Finn Ecrepont, Dean Cleland, Lewis Dobbie, Archie Traynor and Ronan Hughes – to play in every game this campaign.
- Lewis Dobbie has experience of playing for Celtic B in the KDM Evolution Trophy. He was part of the side that lost 3-0 away to East Kilbride in 2024. Former Stranraer man Cameron Elliott was among the goalscorers.
- Stranraer have not played on September 1 since 2018. On that occasion, a trip to Airdrie ended in a 2-0 defeat. The home side featured Scott Robertson, Grant Gallagher, Joao Victoria and Kieran Millar while Sean McIntosh was an unused substitute. The visiting team was: Currie, McGowan (Diver 61), McDonald, Brownlie, D Smith, Hamill, Cummins, McManus, Turner, Anderson (Lamont 70), Donnelly (I Smith 77). Not used: Lidington, Ashmore and Avci.
Admission
Reduced admission pricing applies:
- Adult – £15
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Admission is ‘pay at the gate’. Season tickets are not valid for Tuesday night’s cup tie.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
Merchandise
Pop into the brand new club shop in the McLeans Taxis Stand, which is stocked with exclusive Adidas teamwear, hats, scarves, umbrellas, pin badges, key rings, stickers and much more.
Cash and card payments are accepted.
We are currently awaiting another restock of replica kits, which will be unavailable in the meantime.
Podcast
Check out the latest edition of club podcast Look Blues Talking for a preview of Tuesday night’s cup tie, along with a review of last week’s action.
Coverage
If you can’t make it, you can follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers get a first look at the goals, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Wednesday afternoon.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images), Celtic FC