Raith Rovers have been dealt a big blow ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Ayr United after Hearts announced they were recalling Dario Zanatta from his loan spell at Stark’s Park.
The 20-year-old winger has emerged as a key player for Barry Smith’s side recently and has started the last six games for the club.
The Canadian youth international was a star man again for Rovers on Saturday as they beat Forfar 2-1 to cement their place at the top of the League 1 table.
After the game against the Loons, Zanatta admitted he was looking forward to the crunch clash with second-placed Ayr, saying: “Next week is an exciting game and it’s the big games where players need to show what they are all about and I hope I can do that.”
However, Hearts boss Craig Levein has now recalled Zanatta along with other Hearts loanees and they will fly out to Spain for a warm-weather camp so the Tynecastle boss can assess their progress first hand.
That leaves Raith very much in the lurch ahead of the crucial encounter with Ayr but because Zanatta was out on a development loan, Hearts are entitled to recall him during the transfer window.
The Jambos recently sold winger Jamie Walker to Wigan and are short of options in the wide areas which is why they are keen to run the rule over Zanatta.
