Peter grant’s time for Dow and Martin

18/06/21: PG - “I know how much I respect you as a footballer, so don’t rush back, take as long as you need’.

Pars manager Peter Grant has stressed how much he values Lewis Martin and Ryan Dow. The longer term injured have been told not to rush their returns since he fully understands what they can contribute to the team and for that reason they should not feel under pressure to impress the new manager. He told the website:-

“Lewis has had a bit of a tough time over the last few years, certainly the last 15 months probably. He’s been struggling a wee bit here and there but he’s a big part of the group and it’s just a matter of getting him the right diagnosis for the illness/injury he has at this moment in time. We’re looking at that closely.

Above: Lewis Martin in his last match in March 2020 v Partick Thistle

“He’s feeling good in himself but we have to be careful because it has been a long period of time he’s been out. We’re hoping he can come back and he would be an asset to us for many reasons. We know he can play and he can play different positions, and I think that’s always an asset to have in your football club, someone who can play numerous positions and play them well.

“I’ve seen that myself playing against him - every time I think I’ve played against him he’s played in a different position! I always like to have one or two players like that in my group. I think that’s very, very important, because if you get an injury just before kick-off, or whatever, you’ve got someone to adjust and you have to have someone who’s comfortable doing that. Lewis is definitely that.

“I’m looking forward to getting him on the training ground. When that will be I’m not 100 per cent sure yet but we’ll give him every opportunity possible to do that. He’s still under contract and he’s getting well looked after by the medical department. We’ve just got to get to the bottom of it to give the kid a chance, because he deserves that with the amount of work he’s put in to try to get back. Hopefully that will be the case in the next few weeks and we can start seeing him progress to get him back on the pitch.”

Above: Lewis Martin action v Alloa Athletic, November 2019

The manager reported that Ryan Dow continues his recovery from an Achilles tear sustained against Raith Rovers in February. The midfielder’s injury was not a straightforward Achilles injury and Peter Grant confessed that some people say you’re actually better rupturing it completely because the doctor will go in and fix it.

“Because they don’t need the operation sometimes that can take a little bit longer, which sounds a bit strange. He’s worked his socks off and he’s in fantastic shape, but we have to be very, very careful because - we know his enthusiasm for the game and how much he wants to play.

“I spoke to him once I got the job and told him, ‘listen, I know what you can do, I’ve seen you play often enough, and I know how much I respect you as a footballer, so don’t rush back, take as long as you need’.

“That was obviously just to allay his fears because I know what it’s like when you go into a club and there’s a new manager coming in. But I’ve seen Ryan playing often enough to see the quality he has. What I don’t want is for him to start rushing back and trying to get back on the training pitch and setting himself back, because he’s too important a player for that.”

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