Raith Rovers boss Ray McKinnon admits he is struggling to put out a team to face league leaders Rangers at Stark’s Park tomorrow afternoon.
The Kirkcaldy club have been hit with a full-blown injury crisis with a whole host of first-team regulars either ruled out completely or rated highly doubtful for the game.
The latest hammer blow came earlier this week when it was confirmed that club captain Jason Thomson had fractured a bone in his back and he will be seeing a surgeon today about the best way to treat the injury.
What is certain, is that McKinnon is resigned to being without him for the foreseeable future while he is also fearing the worst over other key players.
The manager said: “Lewis Toshney is struggling, Mitch Megginson is struggling and we need to see how Kyle Benedictus is, although he’s the type of player who will play through it, hopefully.
“Grant Anderson is struggling, but I want to give everyone every chance of making it.
“But we’re down to the bare bones we’re struggling to put together a team.
“I can’t believe the number of injuries we’ve been hit with this season.
“It’s not ideal preparation for facing Rangers.
“The frustrating thing is I look at all the teams above us, Rangers, Hibs, Falkirk, and they roll out just about the same team every week.
“At Rangers, (Martyn) Waghorn has played every game, (Andy) Halliday has played every game, the two full-backs and Jason Holt.
“At Falkirk, it’s the same back four and the same midfield. It’s the same with Hibs.
“But we’re decimated, week-in, week-out.
“Jason is out for months, Toshney has been out for weeks, Ross Callachan was out for months, Lewis Vaughan has been out for months.
“There’s constantly somebody. We’ve not had our problems to seek and I just want to have a settled team.
“When we had a settled team earlier in the season, we went seven or eight games unbeaten, but then you start getting interruptions and it does affect you.”
McKinnon may have to turn to some of the younger players in his squad if the seasoned pros do not make it but he takes heart from the way teenagers David Bates and Ross Matthews have stepped up to the plate already this season.
The manager added: “Nothing fazes these boys. Ross could play on Saturday unfazed. He’s got a great temperament and he’s done it already this season. He just goes about his business quietly and effectively, he’s a great young player.
“Batesy is the same. I’ve got a lot of faith in him. He’s a good lad, a good type and a big unit. He’ll just get better and better.
“I’ve no problems with them at all.
“You would like to go into games like this with everybody armoured up to go.
“But we’ll be fine. I can’t wait for the game. Somebody’s got to beat them and why not us? We’re more than capable, if we keep playing the way we’ve been playing performance-wise.”