BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Falkirk defender Peter Grant Jnr will spend a month at English Championship side Fulham as he recovers from a season-ending cruciate knee ligament injury.
The gifted 21-year-old underwent successful surgery last week and has already embarked on his rehabilitation programme, with Bairns boss Peter Houston hopeful he will be back in action by the start of next season.
And Grant’s dad, former Celtic star Peter, has stepped in to ensure his son gets state of the art treatment as he aims to bounce back from the set-back.
Grant Snr is under-21s manager at Fulham and has invited the Bairns stopper to undertake a portion of his recovery at the London club’s Motspur Park training base.
Houston explained: “We are very fortunate that Peter Grant Snr works at Fulham, and young Peter is going to spend every day during the first month of his rehab down there.
“We just don’t have the same facilities or the same resources as a club like Fulham. They have numerous physios, sports scientists and medical staff for the first team and for the academy players.
“He will go down there and get dedicated treatment and access to anti-gravity treadmills and all-sorts of equipment for the first month, so we are delighted with that.
“It’s good for he lad, too, because he will be with his family and surrounded by the right people during a tough time for any player. That’s better than being up here on his own.
“I was delighted to take the call from his dad. I was going to ask Peter Snr if he could do that anyway – although I’ve not told him that! So, I’m glad he offered first.”
Hippolyte
Meanwhile, the Bairns, who are without a win in their last five matches, have been hit by an ankle injury to deadline day signing from Livingston Myles Hippolyte.
The 21-year-old suffered the knock following a heavy challenge by Kyle Benedictus in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Raith Rovers which saw the towering defender ordered off.
While Houston is relieved that a subsequent scan showed no break or serious ligament damage, he will be out of action for at least a fortnight.
He added: “Myles has been in a protective boot for a couple of days but he got that off on Tuesday.
“He is likely to be out for a couple of weeks because the ankle is still sore and swollen from the challenge on Saturday.
“Thankfully, it’s nothing too serious, but he is a young guy, trying to come in and make an impression at the club and he’s injured without getting a real chance. That’s frustrating for Myles.”
