Dunfermline face an anxious wait to discover whether Andy Geggan can lead their promotion play-off bid on Saturday after the skipper was rushed to hospital with suspected kidney damage.
Geggan had to be replaced shortly before half-time in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat away to Stranraer after sustaining a nasty blow in his lower back.
The 27-year-old was in obvious pain and discomfort and was quickly transferred to hospital to be checked out before travelling back from the match with the Pars.
Doctors reassured the former Dumbarton and Ayr United midfielder that there was no lasting damage and club medical staff will now monitor him to see if he can be passed fit for the return leg at East End Park.
Manager Jim Jefferies said: “Andy got a bang on his kidneys which was very painful and he looked and felt ill so he went away to hospital to get checked out.
“Thankfully there wasn’t any serious damage but he was certainly still a bit groggy on the way home.
“We’ll get a better idea as time goes on but we’ll keep out fingers crossed that it’s not as bad as we feared to start with. Hopefully he might be available.”
Fellow midfielder Josh Falkingham should be passed fit after being replaced as a precaution on Wednesday with a slight calf strain, whilst Stephen Husband and Lewis Spence are nursing dead legs and Jonathan Page is suspended after his late red card.
Jefferies felt his team deserved a draw from their trip to the south-west but, having turned around a 4-1 deficit against Forfar in last season’s play-offs, he is adamant the 2-1 defeat can be overcome.
He added: “Wednesday has given Stranraer something to hang on to but it’s back at our park and I’m sure there will be a big crowd there to roar us on and the fans can play their part.
“We know what we’ve got to do now and we’ll go into it all guns blazing.”