LARGS Thistle's marquee summer signing has declared he is as 'fit as a fiddle' ahead of the new season.

Keir 'Milky' Milliken believes the Barrfields side can make a big impact in the new West of Scotland Premier Division this season.

The 32-year-old has had a trophy-laden career with Auchinleck and Beith and says he is delighted to have at finally signed for his home town club - and believes Thistle can go from strength to strength in the new pyramid set-up.

Keir said: "Some people may think I am going to Largs to wind down my career - but far from it.

"I feel as fit as I ever have been and want to prove people wrong. I believe I can make a big impact at Thistle.

"There is a lot of exciting young talent in the side and I hope that I can bring a bit of experience to the set up and help the younger boys in the team. Things like realising how to hold on to a lead, getting over the finishing line, controlling the flow of a match, the kind of things that come with experience.

"There is a lot of money being spent in the new league with the likes of Darvel and Kilwinning, and while Auchinleck have never been the biggest spenders, they always turn out very strong sides.

"I think if we are as fit as we possibly can be we have a good chance of matching them. Fitness will be key as the football is always 100mph and you don't always get time on the ball.

"Largs have done really well getting promoted and managing to hold their own in the Premier League during the past two seasons. We are hoping to improve upon that - and chase silverware."

Keir's time at Auchinleck Talbot saw him win two Scottish Cups and four league titles in row.

His return to Barrfields sees him team up with Scott Adam, who he will be linking up with in attack and evergreen midfielder Graham Muir.

Keir said: "All three of us started our junior careers at Winton Rovers. I actually played at left back while Scott Adam played in midfield and here we are now leading the Largs attack."

Keir's conversion to striker happened after he signed for Irvine Meadow who ran out of strikers due to injury and suspension. Keir scored six goals in six games and then moved to Talbot where he won every trophy in the junior game including the West and the Evening Times trophy.

After a highly successful six year spell at Beechwood Park, Keir headed to Beith where he won more honours, including pipping his old team Talbot to the title on the final day and lifting the West of Scotland Cup.

One of the highlights of his career was playing at Tynecastle for Auchinleck in the Scottish Cup in 2012.

Heart of Midlothian squeezed through into the next round after a 1-0 victory but Talbot gave their senior opponents a scare after a last minute equaliser was controversially chopped off.

Keir recalled: "It was just amazing to play at a Premier ground and to give such a good account of ourselves. Big Andy Leishman in goal had to make some great saves - they had 25 shots in target in the first half alone. The level of fitness they had was incredible and they were so comfortable on the ball, but we toughed it out before they scored a late winning goal."

Training has resumed but Keir admits there is a different feel to it.

He said: "At present it is 2m social distancing and we can't tackle as yet, but it is good to be back."

Keir, who lives in Largs, said: "I can't really see how you can have clubs like Largs Thistle, Beith Juniors and Auchinleck Talbot without the fans.

"With social distancing measures in place, I am sure it would have to be well policed and you have to watch what you are doing, but I can't see it being possible to have football back in our stadiums without supporters."

He said: "So far we have been doing a lot of 5ks and getting things moving well. I hope to help toughen up some of the younger players and make them more streetwise. Getting some silverware for Thistle would be the icing on the cake."