Players update

SC - “We don’t want to play someone on Saturday that might cause problems further on.”

With the exception of Lewis Martin, Stevie Crawford should have a fully fit squad to choose from when it comes to selecting a team to face Queen of the South. Stevie will be discussing Lewis’ long term lay off with physio Jamie Sutton to see whether a second opinion might establish if there is an underlying issue there. Stevie explained:-

“We were hopeful that Lewis had progressed. He got in and around the squad for the Kilmarnock game but since lockdown he has had a problem with his calf. It is leading into the outside of his foot.”

One of the Pars other Lewis’ - Lewis Mayo - has been called up to Scot Gemmill’s Scotland Under 21s squad to play at home to Croatia and away to Greece on 12th and 17th November. The central defender is on loan from Rangers and was a second half sub against Alloa Athletic. The Pars boss praised his contribution after replacing Paul Watson:-

“Lewis was great. He came to the club because he wants game time, as does Kerr McInroy. Kerr didn’t get on the pitch but I thought when Lewis came on and was solid in his performance. In his short spell at Partick Thistle last season it was evident that he enjoys playing men’s football. Robert Thomson was a handful on Saturday and I thought that he dealt with him really well.”

Paul Watson required seven stitches above his eyebrow after the game against Inverness Caley Thistle a week past Saturday and it was felt against Alloa Athletic that Paul was being a little tentative when it came to headers. Six minutes into the second half Lewis Mayo replaced Paul and the Pars manager explained his precautionary action:-

“Through speaking to the player at half time I knew that he wanted to play and put his neck on the line. Having looked at the way Alloa were going about their business, starting to play a few diagonals on top of him, was it clever from Peter (Grant) or was it the way they were going because we were restricting them from playing in certain ways? It gives Paul another week and he has trained fully this week.”

The other Pars player who did not finish the match on Saturday was Ryan Dow. He had a slight problem with his hamstring and did not training in the early parts of this week. Again the manager claimed this was a precautionary measure:-

“We know that we have big games coming up as well so I think with a hamstring (injury) we have to be mindful that possibly this game might come too early. I know that Ryan is desperate to play but we don’t want to play someone on Saturday that might cause problems further on.”

The club also confirmed that 18 year old Thomas Bragg has left the club by mutual agreement. The central defender who spent a short spell on loan to Kelty Hearts last season leaves with the best wishes of everyone at Dunfermline Athletic.

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