MORTON full back Cammy Ballantyne says the postponement of his side's game against Patrick Thistle could not have come at a better time - as it means he'll be raring to go against Ayr United this weekend.
The former Airdrieonians man has missed the last seven weeks with a calf injury sustained in training after Ton's 1-0 SPFL Trust Trophy win over Hamilton Accies back in October, however he returned to training last week with a view to being in the squad against Partick.
And while the game fell foul of the weekend's bad weather as a layer of snow on the Cappielow surface forced the game to be postponed, Ballantyne admits it was a welcome delay.
The full back is now looking to get some extra sessions into his legs so he can be ready to answer the call of Ton boss Dougie Imrie against Ayr.
He told the Tele: "It's good to be back in training, that's me been back since last Monday now, with Friday being my first full session.
"Luckily for me, the game was called off on Saturday because it gives me an extra week to get some more training in. If all goes to plan I should be fully back in with the boys which I'm really looking forward too.
"Selfishly for me and maybe a couple of the other boys who've been struggling as well that postponement at the weekend could be seen as a bit of a blessing.
"You don't want to miss anymore games than necessary at the end of the day - but the boys did brilliantly to get a result out of the bag up at Raith nearly a fortnight ago now.
"It was a bit typical to be honest. It's just one of those things that happens because when you get a high in football it knows how to bring you right back down.
"I was doing well, the boys were doing well and then it's just one of those things that happen in training. You just need to get your head screwed on and get back fit to help the boys."
Ballantyne could only watch on as his side got the better of Raith Rovers ten days ago, but he says the manner of his side's win at Stark's Park could well kickstart their season.
And he says the victory away from home should be a reason for his side to be full of confidence as they make the trip to face Ayr United in the Scottish Cup.
"The character to go again after going two-nil up and being pulled back," he added. "To go and get the winner is brilliant to try and build some momentum. But we'll be at it against Ayr this weekend.
"Games like that can kickstart a way to put a run together. When it goes to two-each it looks as if it's going one way with one way traffic.
"But to go and nick a late winner should only give you confidence, it means we can go to difficult venues like Raith and get three points.
"Naturally that's not on the line this weekend but we'll give ourselves an opportunity to go through to the next round."
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