Raith Rovers David Bates admits if he is selected to face Rangers tomorrow afternoon, it will be the biggest game of his fledgling career so far.
The 19-year-old was due to be lining up for Brechin City against Dunfermline this weekend but his loan spell with Darren Dods’ League One side was cut short last week because of injuries to Rovers’ first-choice defenders including Lewis Toshney.
Bates was thrown straight back in to Ray McKinnon’s first-team last Saturday up in Elgin for their Scottish Cup tie and he is hoping he can keep his place in the side for the game against Championship league leaders Rangers.
Bates said: “I had trained Tuesday night with Brechin and then I woke on Wednesday morning to a missed call and then a text from Darren wishing me all the best on Saturday.
“I phoned him back but there was no answer so I sent him a text saying I guessed I had been recalled and he explained it all.
“I then spoke to the gaffer and Laurie (Raith assistant manager Ellis) on the Thursday morning. They explained why I had been recalled because Tosher had been injured.
“I wouldn’t have liked to be recalled just to sit on the bench so it was good that I played up in Elgin.
“It was great to get a game.
“I got booked after seven minutes or so which wasn’t the best and I then had to watch my tackles. I was up against a good winger and the gaffer had told me to go and close him down.
“So I had to be careful but it was another learning experience.
“Fingers crossed I can play in the Rangers game. They are a good side but hopefully we can catch them on an off day.
“It would definitely be the biggest game of my career so far if I started against Rangers.”
Although his time at Brechin came to a premature end, Bates admitted he relished the chance of regular first-team football and learned a lot playing alongside the veteran Dods.
Bates said: “It was really good at Brechin. There are a lot of great lads there and the team is good despite the fact they are still bottom of the league.
“We got a couple of wins while I was there but it could have been better.
“I think I played 10 games and I learned a lot playing alongside Darren and Ross Perry.
“Darren was always talking to me even after games telling me what I had done well and what I could do better. It helped quite a lot.
“The gaffer spoke to me before I went saying that he thought I should go and get more experience, not just sit on the bench on a Saturday.
“Instead, he wanted me to play first-team games to learn a lot more and I did.”