Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark admits his side are itching to get back to action but believes their enforced break is a blessing in disguise after a flu bug battered the squad.

The Cliftonhill outfit haven’t kicked a ball in competitive action since a 2-1 defeat at East Kilbride on December 28 and will hope the weather holds up for them to host Cowdenbeath in Lowland League action this Saturday.

Clark said: “It has been a bit frustrating. Over the last month since we played, the weather has been really bad as well and it has been difficult to train at times.

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“There has been a really bad flu bug going around. Dom McMahon and Adam Fernie missed the last game against East Kilbride and it then went round the whole squad.

“It has probably been a blessing in disguise that we haven’t been able to play, but we are ready for Cowdenbeath this weekend.

“The guys are bubbly, they are bright and they are desperate to play.

“We had a bounce game on our own pitch on Saturday morning and that worked well for us.

“It is not quite the same as having a game but it is as close as you can get and that will get our match fitness back up to speed a bit.

“I went to see Cowdenbeath last week against Stirling Uni. It was very tight but they scored two good goals and defended well when they had to.

“We know it will be a difficult game but it is a game that I know if we can hit our levels, we are more than capable of winning.

“We just need to do our talking on the pitch.”

Rovers are seventh in the Lowland League and Clark has candidly stated he sees no point in strengthening the squad further with the league title out of reach, as leaders East Kilbride sit a whopping 20 points clear.

However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t expect his players to perform and says there is still plenty for his charges to play for.

He added: “I am really pleased with the group that we’ve got and I am quite happy to go to the end of the season without making any changes.

“We want to try and show we are a good team and if any of our guys can step up during that time, then great.

“We will also try to plan as best as we possibly can for next season, so there is still a lot to play for.

“Part of the challenge is to do as well as we can.”

Saturday’s clash is a 3pm kick-off at Cliftonhill.