BY DARREN JOHNSTONE @CCP_Sport
Livingston have been plunged into an injury crisis ahead of the visit of Rangers after manager Mark Burchill only had seven fit players on the training pitch yesterday.
The Lions are already without long-term absentees Craig Sives, Darren Cole and Danny Mullen and their woes have worsened since Tuesday’s narrow 2-1 defeat at Hibs.
Burchill, who was only able to name five substitutes at Easter Road, was reluctant to reveal the identity of the players that are struggling to make Saturday’s clash against the league leaders but concedes he is down to the bare bones.
He said: “When you’re at any smaller club and with the budget we have, you’re always walking that tightrope.
“We’ve got three long-term injuries at the minute – guys that would probably start – then you have two or three other niggles.
“From a squad of just over 20, it makes it very tight but you just have to deal with it.
“The players have been doing fantastic, we only had five guys on the bench the other night.
“The guys are doing the right things and I just hope I can keep the rest of them fit.”
After putting up a good fight against Hibs, Burchill is confident his team can cause Mark Warburton’s side problems this weekend.
He added: “How we we stop Rangers? I think it’s more about how do Rangers stop us?
“I don’t want players going into the game with the mentality of, ‘we need to try and stop Rangers’.
“We’re at home and I want to go and win the match first and foremost.
“They’re a very good team with a brilliant manager. It’s a difficult game but we’ve run them close this season in the cup and the league.
“If we can be positive and be brave on the ball then I think we’ve got enough to win.”
