BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Ray McKinnon has revealed the Raith Rovers players have christened Craig Wighton “Lazarus” following his miraculous recovery from injury.
The 19-year-old, who is on loan from Dundee until January, was rushed to Ninewells Hospital on Saturday night following a crunching tackle from Hibs’ Lewis Stevenson, prompting fears he had sustained serious knee damage.
However, he was given the all clear by the doctors – and he remarkably returned to training with Rovers yesterday.
McKinnon has confirmed the Scotland under-19 international will be in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Livingston – much to the disbelief of his teammates.
He laughed: “Craig trained on Thursday – and the lads are calling him Lazarus!
“It really did look a really bad one at the time, his knee just ballooned up and the club doctor feared the worst.
“However, he should be in the squad for Saturday’s game, providing he gets through training at the tail-end of this week with no problems.”
Meanwhile, McKinnon has warned Raith’s Championship rivals that Jon Daly has rediscovered his “optimum” fitness following an impressive outing against Hibs.
The former Dundee United and Rangers front-man netted Rovers’ only goal in the 2-1 defeat against the capital club and generally proved a handful for Liam Fontaine and Paul Hanlon at the heart of the Hibs defence.
And McKinnon hopes that form continues at Almondvale tomorrow.
He added: “He is probably getting to his optimum fitness now. He has had a run of games under his belt and he is doing really well for us. We know his strengths and it is a balancing act when you play Jon.
“At the moment, he is doing great for us and causing all sorts of problems for defences with his presence, goal threat and just being Jon Daly. Hopefully he can keep that going.”
