Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe will need full squad for challenging schedule ahead

Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe will need his entire squad for a hectic run of Championship games in March and April.

But he will be without winger Lewis McGregor for at least two weeks, after the 19-year-old left Cappielow on crutches with a fractured foot following a 2-1 defeat to Morton.

Airdrie were due to travel to Dunfermline tonight (Tuesday) and Inverness this Saturday, before hosting Arbroath on March 16.

They then have a gap before tackling Welsh side TNS in the SPFL Trust Trophy final at Falkirk on March 24, and visit Ayr United four days later.

April is similarly heavy, with a trip to Arbroath on the 2nd, followed by Morton at home four days later.

Raith Rovers host the Diamonds on April 9, and they are at home to Dunfermline on April 13.

Partick Thistle at Firhill beckons on April 20, before hosting current league-leaders Dundee United seven days later.

McCabe said: “We’ve got a busy March and April coming ahead, so we’re going to have to use everyone.

“Ideally, I’d like to have the glass half-full and think the play-offs are our target, but we’ve got that many fixtures that we can’t think about the play-offs, or anything, just now.

“Of course that’s in the back of my mind, where I’d like to be, but we have to make sure we’re taking care of it one game at a time.”

And he added: “Dunfermline got a positive result on Saturday [2-0 win at home to Ayr United] and Inverness put Morton’s run to an end [with a 2-0 away victory], so that’s two good results for them, and we know there are going to be some tough games coming up.

“But my focus now is on making sure the boys are well rested, recovered, and that they go again on Tuesday and Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s teams around about you, every team in this league