Dundee Utd send Stirton to Ayr for first-team game time

Dundee United have sent striker Owen Stirton to Ayr United on a season-long loan, with manager Jim Goodwin stressing the need for the 19-year-old to play regular first-team football. Stirton made seven appearances, starting three times, on loan to Airdrieonians in the second half of last season as they were relegated from the Championship. Now he returns to the second tier with Ayr under new head coach Gary Naysmith. Stirton also made 17 appearances for United last season, three of them starts, but only scored once for either club - in a 2-1 League Cup defeat by Kilmarnock in August. "We feel this is a good opportunity for Owen to continue his development at a good club and get the regular game time needed at this stage," Goodwin told his club webste. "Like Sam, it's so important that the younger lads are playing week in, week out and Ayr are a really good club who will look after him."