Clydebank manager Gordon Moffat hopes to have Liam McGonigle back from injury sooner than he expected – but the Bankies boss admits that’s no surprise.

The winger suffered a knee ligament injury against former club Rossvale back in December and underwent surgery a couple of months later – from a specialist who has operated on Premiership stars in the past.

McGonigle, who joined the club last summer, is now back running less than six months after suffering the injury and Moff is eager to bring him back into the fold.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “Liam had his knee operation done by one of the country’s best knee surgeons.

“The guy has done some fairly high profile footballers in this country – guys like Mark Reynolds [Dundee United] and Scott Wright [Rangers] so he’s quite well renowned and he does a thing called an internal brace which Liam has had done and he’s reacted very well.

“Liam is quite a quick healer. I had him at Rossvale where he had a muscle injury and was out for half of the time than anyone else would be, so it looks like that’s going in his favour again.

“He’s way ahead of schedule and is actually running which is remarkable considering the injury had.

“We’re fairly confident that he’ll be very close by the time that the games start.”

Moffat admits he has been trying to make sure his number 11 doesn’t get too far ahead of himself but trusts that he is in good hands.

He added: “We’ve got a physio looking after him in terms of the early stages of moving and walking and jogging.

“She’ll hand him over to our physios, who have got good experience after working with Cammy McClair and his knee last season when we got him back on track.

“With Liam it’s more of a case of trying to dampen his enthusiasm because he wants to shoot ahead but he’s being good and disciplined with it and is doing everything he’s been asked to do.

“He’s well on track, and now it’s just about keeping him on track and keeping him from getting too excited.”