Former Linfield winger will be a big player for Airdrie, says boss as he reveals 'accent struggles'

Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe reckons Liam McStravick will keep doing his talking on the pitch after revealing the new signing and his team-mates struggle to understand each others' accents.

The Belfast winger arrived on a permanent deal from Northern Irish Premiership side Linfield at the start of the month and bagged his first goal for Airdrie with the winner in yesterday's 3-2 win over Stirling University in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

McCabe is thrilled to have the talented teen at the club and believes the 18-year-old will be a "big player" for the Diamonds in their Championship push this season.

McStravick described himself as "magic" in his first interview with the club and certainly delivered on that with a fine curling effort at Forthbank.

And McCabe reckons he will continue to do the business, as he gets to grips with all the new voices in the Diamonds dressing room.

The player-boss said: "The wee man is confident, but in a good way. He is not an arrogant soul.

"He comes in and backs himself. He is a lovely footballer and he is only going to get better and better.

"The boys take the mick out of him for his accent and he has probably taken the week or so he has been in at the club to adjust to the Scottish accent.

"He is a funny character and his personality is only going to grow in the months to come. No doubt, he will be a big player for us.

"You can see his quality. I would probably like to see him drift inside and get on the ball a wee bit more.

"He stayed a bit wider in the first half, but his confidence grew in the second half, he started to come in and working with Adam Frizzell, Gabby McGill and Josh O'Connor, we had moments where we got in between the Stirling midfield and there backline, so we could have