Published: Saturday, 30th January, 2010 11:00am

Graham ready

NET BOUND: Brian Graham is hoping to put the ball past the Airdrie poalkeeper this afternoon.

Brian Graham is hoping to prove to boss James Grady that he is ready to fire Morton further away from the relegation trapdoor against bottom club Airdrie United today.

After the club released Brian Wake and failed to secure the signature of Jonatan Johansson this week, either Graham or Iain Russell look likely to start against Airdrie, with the club now having only three strikers on the books.

Graham said: "I am very much looking forward to starting the match, if selected. I played last week and, even although it wasn't the best game, we got the result and that's what counts. If I'm playing again today I'll be delighted."

Graham admitted he was sorry to see his good friend Wake leave the club and insisted strikers are a breed of footballer who particularly need the motivation of competition within the squad.

He said: "I was sad to see Brian go because he was a good guy and my travel buddy in the car. I will be travelling alone now, but at least I won't have to listen to any more of his dodgy rock music.

"As a footballer, and particularly as a striker, you thrive on competition. You want other good strikers at the club. It improves us as players and is good for the whole club. We are down to three now - it's just between myself, Spoonsy and Iain Russell.

"I would have liked Johansson to come in because he has proven himself to be a class player and I could have learned from him."

Boss Grady has identified a lack of speed in the side as a problem, because it allows the opposition to play a high line without the threat of pace hurting them from a through ball or punt over the top.

Graham admitted pace isn't something he is noted for, but insisted he could still do a job for the team up front.

He said: "Maybe I'm not the fastest but I still feel I'm capable of getting in behind teams when it's required. I'm not slow. All I can do is get the head down in training and try to impress the gaffer."

Although Graham would not say that winning at home to rock-bottom Airdrie United was a must-win game, he did admit that at the very least Ton must not lose to the relegation favourites.

"I wouldn't say it was must-win but we shouldn't be getting beaten at home. Confidence is high after last week and putting in a good performance against Celtic. We showed we can compete at that sort of level. It's all about doing all the ugly things and, whatever it takes, walking off the pitch at quarter to five with the three points in the bag.

"The manager prepares us the same for every game, whether it's Airdrie, Dundee or Celtic. You treat everyone the same. Every game is about workrate, getting in people's faces and the manager always tells us to focus on playing at a high tempo.

"I wouldn't quite say the confidence was as high as it has been since I came to the club - but it's getting back there. The squad is rallying and we have to take that in to today's game.

"We have more or less a full squad, everybody has been training well.

"Our objective now is to catch Raith above us - simple as that. We can't look too far ahead, we just have to try to put a run together and catch Raith."