BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Raith Rovers have been handed a massive boost ahead of their Scottish Cup clash with Hibernian with the news that defensive duo Kyle Benedictus and Lewis Toshney have agreed new one-year deals.
The pair both arrived at the club in the summer on initial 12-month contracts but have impressed enough to earn one-year extensions to their agreements.
Benedictus has been virtually ever-present since joining from Dundee, making 21 starts and pitching in with two goals.
Former Celtic youngster Toshney, who saw out last season with Cowdenbeath, has been affected by injury in recent weeks but has also won praise from McKinnon for his solid displays.
The Rovers boss, whose side host Hibs on Saturday, said: “They’re two excellent, young centre-halves and it’s great news for the club that we’ve got these players signed up.
“We’re trying to build the club to move forward with youth and I think those two have one of the best partnerships in the league.
“They’re fantastic trainers, they’re young, they’re going to get better and better, and I think they’ve got great careers ahead of them.
“They’ve come in and recognised that they’re 23 years of age and it’s time to really start putting performances down, and they’ve certainly done that. I’m over the moon with them.
“It shows the fans what we’re trying to do, and hopefully it puts a marker down that we’re trying to move forward and get the best young talent we can at the club.”
Toshney added on Twitter: “Delighted to have signed a new deal with Raith Rovers. Great club and definitely on the up.”
