Another injury setback for Dunfermline Athletic defender Kevin Rutkiewicz

Dunfermline defender Kevin Rutkiewicz has been dealt another injury blow with the news that he has been ruled out of action for a month.

The 30-year-old has played just once this season, in the shock Scottish Communities League Cup defeat to East Fife last month, because of a troublesome hip problem he picked up in pre-season training.

Manager Jim McIntyre said: “We sent Kevin for a scan and he”s going to be out for the best part of four weeks. The scan showed up a tear in a muscle in his hip/thigh area and he needs the time to let it heal.”

The Fifers have not had their troubles to seek on the injury front since moving back up to the SPL in the summer.

Talismanic midfielder Martin Hardie missed Saturday”s 3-2 defeat at Kilmarnock with an ankle injury and he will need to be assessed later this week to see whether he can return to face Hibs this weekend.

New signing Craig Easton had to be substituted at half-time at Rugby Park after suffering a shin injury, but is expected to recover in time.

However, Steven Bell and Steven McDougall remain out and Nick Phinn has been told he needs a further three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.