Airdrie face Falkirk in Friday evening’s televised match, and Dean McMaster says the easing of a catastrophic injury crisis can allow the Diamonds to get back to their preferred style of play.

Player-manager Rhys McCabe and full-backs Dylan MacDonald and Mason Hancock have all returned to the first-team squad in recent weeks – as has midfielder McMaster, who was glad to play his first full match since August in last weekend’s fixture at Hamilton.

“It was good to play the full 90 minutes. My legs were tired for the last ten minutes or so, but apart from that I felt good.

“It was disappointing to lose, I felt we had periods of control in the first half and especially at the start of the second half. At other times Hamilton had control, so I’d say it was an even game – I think we had good chances, passes and crosses into the box that we just couldn’t put away.

“It’s frustrating, because at times we haven’t been creating those chances, and now that we are we’re not taking them. We just need to keep going and hopefully it’ll come.”

A knee-ligament strain sustained in a freak training incident has seen McMaster sidelined for four and a half months, and the 21-year-old has watched on in frustration as his side’s struggle for form sees them propping up the Championship table.

“It’s been difficult watching from the sidelines, because I feel like I can make a big difference.

“Helping to gain control of games and getting my foot on the ball in midfield is something that I can bring to the team, and something that I feel can improve the team.”

Diamonds fans will certainly be hoping to see the results of that improvement when Falkirk first-foot the Albert Bartlett Stadium for Friday’s opening fixture of 2025.

John McGlynn’s side have enjoyed an incredible season after winning promotion from the Championship last summer, currently sitting six points clear of Livingston at the top of the table.

McMaster says Airdrie will give Friday’s visitors the respect they deserve – but will also look to some fantastic wins over the Bairns in recent years.

“They’re a good side, they’re top of the league for a reason – they play good football and they’re good to watch. At the same time I’ve played against them in the past, and I know how well we can perform against them.

“I’ve got full confidence going into every game, that’s just how I am, so we’ll see how it goes.”

And while the gap to ninth place increased to ten points following last weekend’s late defeat, Dean refuses to accept that it’s insurmountable.

“We just need to keep working hard. We need to play the way we play, and we’ll start scoring goals. Sometimes we go away from it, which has never been like us, but if we get back to our own game, those chances and goals will come.

“Getting boys back and the possibility of new faces coming in is a huge boost, and it can be exactly what we need to turn things around in the new year.”

Manager Rhys McCabe is looking forward to kicking off 2025.

“After the last-minute goal at Hamilton, and how deflated that left us, we were itching to get back on the training pitch to try and put things right.

“It’ll be a difficult game against Falkirk, it always is and they’re flying at the moment, but it’s always an interesting contest so it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

The Diamonds player-manager, along with fellow recent returnees Dean McMaster, Dylan MacDonald, and Mason Hancock, all came through the Hamilton match unscathed, with the squad suffering “the usual bumps and bruises” according to McCabe.

Defender Aidan Wilson, midfielder Liam McStravick, and striker Aaron Reid are all expected to return to full-contact training within the next week or so.

Goalkeeper Cade Melrose, defender Cameron Rowley, and midfielder Elliot Dunlop are all available for selection have returned from loan spells as Bo’ness United, Broomhill, and Stranraer respectively.

Referee Iain Snedden is in charge of his second Airdrie match this season, having officiated October’s 2-1 away defeat to Partick Thistle.

Match tickets are available using the link below, and our DiamondsTV video (subscribers outwith the UK and Ireland) and audio (pay-per-match worldwide) streams are available.

Supporters travelling by car are advised that there is no access to Petersburn Road from Carlisle Road. Falkirk supporters should access the Petersburn entrance via Forrest Street then Tower Road.

The public bar at The Albert Bartlett Stadium is open to home fans only for this fixture.

Please be aware that behaviour deemed unacceptable will result in ejection from the stadium. Issues arising during the match can be reported anonymously - see the posters around the stadium for more information. Our unacceptable conduct policy can be viewed using the link below.