RENFREW co-manager Colin Clark insists striker Alain Kinney will be given every chance to prove his fitness and earn a place in the Frew squad for next season.

The 31-year-old was the New Western Park side’s top scorer in the 2015/2016 season when his 26 goals in 29 games helped Renfrew to the Central District First Division title.

But Kinney crumpled to the deck holding his knee in an Evening Times Cup tie with Girvan last June.

Scans later revealed he had snapped his anterior cruciate ligament, putting Frew’s goal machine out of action for almost a year.

The burden to fill his goalscoring boots principally fell to Scott Morton and Chris Zok last season, and the duo delivered as Renfrew stayed in the Super League First Division with relative comfort.

But now Clark and fellow co-boss Martin Ferry are set to welcome Kinney back into the fold as he nears fitness.

Clark believes the forward has the capability to play in the Premier Division and is eager to see what impact he can have for Frew next season, although he insists he won’t be rushed back into action.

Clark said: “We’ll need to treat him with kid gloves and nurse him along, we can’t rush it. We’ll have to see how things are financially at the club but we probably will offer him a contract to give him that security. If he’s taking the risk of his knee breaking down again to come back for us we have to give him that security.

“We’ll give him every chance to prove his fitness. His injury meant 30 goals came out of our team last season. He’s a Premier League player there’s no doubt about that, the number of Premier League managers who would have him is frightening. His work commitments mean he can’t be there all the time and we accommodate that.”