BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Raith Rovers skipper Jason Thomson is a massive doubt for tomorrow’s meeting with Dumbarton after his back injury proved more serious than first thought.
It was initially expected the former Hearts defender would enjoy a swift return to action after sustaining the problem in the 3-0 defeat to Livingston last month.
However, what was thought to be a nerve issue is now being treated as a muscle tear in Thomson’s back and the 28-year-old is still bothered by the injury three weeks on.
Manager Ray McKinnon explained: “Jason’s struggling, still. He has a tear in his back – it’s a wee bit worse than they thought.
“He took a bad fall and it seized up, and then he tried to play on and when he went up for a header he seems to have twisted it.
“I’ve spoken to the physio and they’re pretty certain it’s a tear, and it is improving, but he’s suffering when he’s twisting and turning.
“So, he’s doubtful for the Dumbarton game – he’s 50-50.”
Gap
McKinnon, meanwhile, is convinced there is ‘not much between’ fifth-placed Raith and Falkirk and Hibernian above them, and is desperate for his side not to become isolated in the race for a promotion play-off spot.
After a hat-trick of consecutive defeats, the Kirkcaldy outfit are nine points behind Falkirk in third and one adrift of Morton in fourth but have two games in hand and McKinnon is certain they can aim high.
He added: “I know there’s a gap but I don’t think there’s much between us and Hibs and Falkirk; they’ve gone on unbelievable runs.
“We wouldn’t want to gap to widen any. We want to make it as competitive as possible. We don’t want to let the three at the top get away and then have a middle league table.
“We’ll be chasing them down as hard as we can, definitely.”
