Aberdeen kid Mason Hancock’s loan spell with Arbroath looks to be over after suffering a serious knee injury in training.
The young defender joined the Lichties on a season-long loan in July, but his season could have ended already.
The 19-year-old is said to have sustained a serious injury while training with his parent club this week.
As a result, Hancock looks to have played his final game for Arbroath, with the teen now returning to The Dons for rehab.
The Englishman featured 11 times for Dick Campbell’s side. His last appearance was in the final 10 minutes of the draw with Inverness.
Lichties boss Campbell did provide some positive injury news with Scott Bitsindou set to return to the squad for the trip to Partick Thistle.
However, Scott Stewart looks set to miss out for another week, at least.
“We’ve had a massive blow in losing Mason Hancock,” he told Courier Sport. “He’ll be out for the season.
“He was playing a bounce game with Aberdeen and did his knee.
“I was going to play him this week. It breaks my heart.
“Big Scotty (Bitsindou) is back but I’m not sure if he’s ready to start. It changes my thought process.”
No ‘negativity’
Arbroath travel to Firhill looking to bag their third win of the season and create some distance between themselves and bottom-placed Hamilton.
Ian McCall’s side have also endured a torrid campaign in recent weeks and will look to ensure they don’t suffer a seventh defeat in a row.
The Jags have had their own injury troubles to contend with.
Campbell, however, is just focused on the 90 minutes of football ahead and wants to put any “negativity” surrounding his side’s form to the side.
“I’m going through there with a very positive attitude,” he said. “I can’t be bothered with the negativity, we’re not half way through the season yet.
“It has been a reality check.
“Nobody knows more than me how difficult it is to go through to Partick Thistle.”
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