THE name may have read ‘trialist’ on the team sheet, but it was a familiar face wearing number 18 for Irvine Meadow against Kilwinning Rangers.

Owen McGinty appeared for Irvine Meadow in their first game of the league season, and if he was to sign for Colin Spence and James Latta’s men he would certainly bring some top talent with him.

McGinty began his career lighting up the youth ranks at Glasgow Rangers, later moving on to sign with Ayr United’s development side.

It’s not just great sides he has signed for either, and in early 2020 he featured in a Puma advertising campaign, with the then 18-year-old attacker firing shots into Atletico Madrid stopper Jan Oblak.

Now 21, having had interest from Bournemouth, Swansea and Sunderland in 2020, he has endured a harder time of late.

He signed with local side Largs Thistle at the beginning of last season scoring seven goals in 11 games, before being transfer listed only months into his spell.

He was snapped up by Arthurlie, though McGinty never hit the ground running, and soon departed.

Now, he appears to have been given a chance by Medda, and certainly showed what he can do, baring down on goal against the Buffs, where only a last man challenge, and subsequent red card, denied him a debut goal in his brief appearance.