Falkirk sweating over the fitness of Paul Watson ahead of crucial double-header

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

Falkirk are sweating over the fitness of key defender Paul Watson as the battle with Hibernian for second spot in the Championship intensifies.

The former Livingston and Raith Rovers stopper was replaced after just 28 minutes of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Queen of the South after suffering a knee knock.

Watson, 24, has not trained this week after club doctors ascertained that he has slightly tweaked his medial ligaments and prescribed rest.

Falkirk are hopeful he could play some part in training towards the tail end of the week, however he is a major doubt for the crucial Championship clash with St Mirren – which is followed by a trip to Hibs just three days later.

With manager Peter Houston attending the funeral of former Dundee United director Derek Robertson, it was left to Bairns first-team coach James McDonaugh to update the assembled press.

And the former Hibs coach revealed: “Paul took a really sore one on Saturday and has tweaked his medial ligaments.

“We will need to wait and see how he is in terms of the St Mirren game. He didn’t train on Monday or Tuesday, but fingers crossed he can come through it because we are short of numbers as it is.

“He’ll get treatment with the physio and we’ll see where he is come Thursday and Friday. It’s an important area of the pitch and our numbers are short there.

“It seems that we are getting one suspended, then losing another one, and so on – the size of the squad is definitely being tested at the moment.”

It is yet another defensive blow for Falkirk, who are already without Peter Grant after a cruciate knee ligament injury ruled him out for the rest of the season. Young attacker Kevin O’Hara will also be absent against St Mirren.