Dundee United frontman Milos Lacny’s season is over after he tore his cruciate ligament on the training pitch.
The Slovakian striker, who joined the Tangerines on a year-long loan from Sparta Prague in January, has made six appearances so far scoring once and would have been a valuable member of the squad for the run-in.
As it is United will have to try to qualify for Europe without Lacny, starting with Saturday’s trip to Easter Road to face relegation-threatened Hibs.
”Milos has a partial tear of his cruciate ligament,” confirmed Tannadice boss Peter Houston. ”He did it in training when we were playing a game. He was just crossing a ball and there was nobody near him.
”He has been for a scan and the doctor has told us he will miss several months. There is not a definite timescale on it but he won’t play again this season and it will be after the summer break before he gets back.
”It is a shame for him because he has come over here to sign from us and has had to be patient. Due to the form of Jon Daly and Johnny Russell, Milos has been on the bench but in the weeks to come I would have been throwing him in.
”So it is really unfortunate but there is nothing you can do about it. It is just one of those unusual ones.”
The news regarding Lacny may have been bleak but there was something positive on the selection front for Houston.
He revealed that both Gary Mackay-Steven (shoulder) and Johnny Russell (ankle) should recover from injuries in time to face the Hibees.
”Johnny and Gary had missed training this week because of knocks they picked up,” he said. ”However, they have come back now so we are hoping they will be fine for the weekend.”
United face a Hibs side fighting for survival and Houston reckons that makes them troublesome opposition.
Boss Pat Fenlon added several players in the January transfer window and his United counterpart has been impressed by several of the acquisitions.
”Hibs are dangerous opponents,” he declared. ”I have watched them recently and they are fighting for everything. The changes they have made have made an impact, with the likes of James McPake adding experience to their defence.
”He is quick, has been in the game for a while and holds their defence together so he has been a very good signing.”
Houston added: ”Hibs also have a number of attacking options, with Garry O’Connor, Leigh Griffiths, Roy O’Donovan and Eoin Doyle all there. So we know how difficult it is going to be.
”Pat will be wanting to get this season over and done with so he can start afresh next season. But the main thing for us is focusing on ourselves and getting the win we need to make sure we are in the top six when the league splits next month.”