Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo insists the club will give Lewis Toshney all the help he needs after a devastating injury setback.
The 26-year-old had worked incredibly hard after suffering a knee problem in October, last year, to edge closer to full fitness.
Earlier this week, Toshney joined League 1 side Arbroath on a loan until January in a bid to get him fully back up to speed with game time for the Red Lichties.
However, his comeback for Dick Campbell’s side lasted just 45 minutes on Tuesday night in the Betfred Cup at Alloa after he suffered a recurrence of the injury with the loan deal now scrapped.
The full extent of the latest problem is still to be revealed but Laszlo admits he really feels for the player and the ordeal he is going through.
The manager said: “Lewis has been injured again which is a real shame.
“I like him as a person, he is desperate to be fit again and be playing football.
“But it seems like he has been unfortunate with his knee again.
“We let him go on loan because he wanted to play again but after just one game his injury has come again.
“As a club we will support him – there is the human side to these things.
“It is a very difficult time for him so we will help him. I have been speaking to Lewis about things.”
United’s own Betfred campaign suffered another setback on Tuesday night when they were beaten by Ross County in Dingwall.
This afternoon’s tie against Alloa is now a must-win one but Laszlo has injury problems that are hampering his plans.
He said: “Craig Curran is still not 100% so he will not play tomorrow but he will be back next week.
“Billy King is still out but he will start training again next week.
“Everyone else including James Keatings and Fraser Aird are fit.”
Laszlo added: “I thought we were unlucky against Ross County but we have to improve our game management.
“In the last two matches we have needed to be better at that.
“It is still the middle of pre-season but I want us to be sharper and fresher against Alloa.
“This will be a difficult game because they have just come up to the Championship and they will be keen to show they will compete.”
Meanwhile, keeper Matej Rakovan admits United are drinking in the last-chance saloon if they are to have any chance of progressing out of the group stages of the Betfred Cup.
The 28-year-old Slovakian summer signing said: “I have enjoyed it here so far but we need to get better results.
“The first two matches haven’t gone the way we wanted them to but we can change that this weekend.
“It is very early in the season but this game is one we have to win because we want to continue in the League Cup.
“This is our last chance to stay in.
“Getting promoted to the top division is the main aim for the team but every player wants to play in cups.
“And we want to go into the start of the league in a positive frame of mind rather than on the back of going out.
“You want to build confidence by winning matches.
“I felt we played well against Ross County, we improved from the first game to that one.
“So hopefully we can take that on further again and get the victory over Alloa.”
