ALLOA striker Isaac Layne is ready to stake his claim for a starting berth this season after an impressive first outing in the 3-0 win over Fort William last weekend.

The young hitman caught the eye as he won the Wasps a penalty that led to the opening goal before adding the second goal in an all-action display before being replaced at half time, but he knows he will have to keep on producing to make the starting eleven with so much competition for places at the club now.

The former Southend United trainee says he is now determined to repay manager Jack Ross with goals this season for giving him a new lease of life since his arrival at the club.

Layne told Advertiser sport: “This is my first time of my career where I have been involved right from the beginning and not have to play catch up so I am keen to repay the gaffer for the faith he has shown in me. This year is a chance for me to repeat my Brechin form in this league last year over the course of a full season so that is what I aim to do.

“It was great to get back to action and to mark it with a goal was extra special for me. I won us a penalty as well and fair play to Flannigan for sticking it away, but I was desperate to take it as well. Maybe one of us will need to miss one first for it to be decided who takes them in the season. The gaffer gave us all programmes to follow over the off season and I tried my best to follow that while I was back home in England so hopefully that extra work will pay off for me during the season.

“I feel sharp and ready to go for the season ahead and it is a big season for both the club and me personally. We have massive competition for places with the likes of Spence and Longworth coming in. They are both proven goalscorers so I need to stake my own claim and I have already proven that I can score goals at this level so it is very healthly competition. Spence has been brought in to deliver goals and you know what you get with him because he's a top player. Longworth has really impressed since coming in and he can play with both feet so I am sure he will be among the goals before too long as well so it will spur each other on I am sure.”

Layne does not think the Wasps should be seen as outright favourites in such a competitive league with the likes of full time outfits Livingston and Airdrie in the running, but he definitely believes they have a squad who are more than capable of challenging for promotion.

He said: “The team is looking very strong this year with the likes of Flanny and Kev coming back in and then the likes of Robertson, Goodwin and Graham who look like brilliant signings already. We still have the likes of Jason Marr and Graeme Holmes to come back in so it looks like it could be an exciting season ahead for us.

“I wouldn't say we are the favourites for the title because there are two full time teams in the league and a lot of teams in competing for promotion so we know it will be tough. I do believe, however, with the squad of players that we have, that we are certainly capable of winning this league so hopefully we can hit the ground running and then give it our best shot.”

The 21-year-old reckons the midweek friendly with Dunfermline is the perfect chance to test out their League 1 promotion credentials by locking horns with the current champions and he hopes to extend his scoring record against them after notching against them for Brechin City last term.

Layne added: “Dunfermline did well last year to be promoted as Champions of League 1 and so they seem like the perfect test for us ahead of our campaign in that league. I played against them last year with Brechin and they are a very good team, but I scored against them then and hopefully I can add to that record on Wednesday. It will be a very good test with them being full time, but we know all about the challenges that brings from last season so we will be ready for them.”