Paul Kee feels in-form strikers crucial to Welders' Irish Cup hopes against Glenavon

​Welders were the only Lough41 Championship team to pick up a victory over top-flight opposition in the fifth round when they defeated Newry City 2-1.

Former Crusaders and Carrick Rangers forward Jonny Frazer levelled the scores after Kee’s men went behind before Kyle Owens clinched an 86th-minute winner.

Frazer has returned from a serious injury to add further firepower to a Welders strikeforce which also includes Matthew Ferguson – the son of Irish League legend Glenn – and Michael McLellan.

The 27-year-old Ferguson will be coming up against a former club today and has scored 14 league goals to date this season – including the recent hat-trick against Dergview - while ex-Linfield man McLellan has added a further 11.

"Michael McLellan just turned 30 and has been a talisman in the Championship and Premiership for other clubs,” said Kee. “Matthew Ferguson and Michael are natural goalscorers and we've had Jonny Frazer coming back after a serious injury and he has chipped in with a few goals and assists.

"Having them three really helps the team.

"When you have players up the pitch that have a reputation for scoring it helps the whole team have confidence.

"Matthew and Michael have been scoring a lot recently so, if we are to get anything on Saturday, we need them playing well."

After a tough start to life at the Welders for Kee which resulted in only two wins from his opening 10 league games, the East Belfast outfit have turned their form around in style.

They’ve won seven of their last eight – the only blip a 3-1 defeat to red-hot Warrenpoint Town – and no Championship team can better their tally of 25 goals scored in the last 10.

"We've been working on the training pitch and changing the mindset of the players,” he added. “You’ve to work, graft and put the hard yards in and that's what we're doing.

"I've been lucky to bring in some young, hungry players and mix them in with the experience at the club.

"There's a great infrastructure and they've now been in the new stadium for two years.

"They have people there who are passionate about what the club is doing.

"It's a club I would like to think is going places and hopefully there are more days like this in the future.”

Despite their form and Glenavon’s poor recent run, Kee says his side are firm underdogs at Mourneview Park.

"They have Premiership standard players and are there every week at a higher standard, so we have to hope they have an off day and we play really well to get something from it,” he said. “It's the beauty of cup football and surprises happen, but the facts are that we're the underdogs.

"Glenavon are a good team with good players and they're going to turn their form around soon."