Raith boss John McGlynn has confirmed that keeper Robbie Thomson will miss the rest of this season after rupturing his Achilles tendon against Stenhousemuir on Saturday.
The former Falkirk stopper had to be stretchered off in the 70th minute to be replaced by Dean Wyness in a game that ended 1-1.
Thomson is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines and will almost certainly miss the start of next season as well with McGlynn admitting he and the rest of the Rovers players were gutted for the 26-year-old.
The Stark’s Park boss said: “It looks like Robbie has ruptured his Achilles tendon.
“I would anticipate that is exactly what it is and it is a long-term injury.
“His season is finished and (he will be out) probably into next season as well.
“This season has been a disaster from an injury point of view.
“We have less and less options and I don’t just mean with Robbie’s injury.
“Dean came on and did very well – I have no fears with Dean whatsoever. He is a top goalkeeper.
“We obviously wish Robbie a speedy recovery and we are all gutted for him.
“We have had no luck with injuries at all and it is just another one to make the job more difficult.”
McGlynn was already without four key players through injury for the game at Stenny with Iain Davidson also not being risked on the artificial surface because of a back problem.
That meant the manager’s selection options were once again severely limited with other players including Grant Gillespie being out for long spells this season.
He said: “It is obviously gutting for the players.
“We have a few of them – Lewis Vaughan, Chris Duggan, Kyle Benedictus, Tony Dingwall, Iain Davidson was rested and now Robbie.
“You are talking five or six players, guys who are going to start so that has a massive impact on your team.
“While we are not wanting a sob story, it is a fact.
“There is no team in this league with six players out who would still be able to compete. None – not one would still be able to get out there and get results.
“Everyone wants to win every game but you have to realise the more injuries we get, the more your hands are tied behind your back to do the job. It is very, very difficult.”