BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
FALKIRK defender Peter Grant will return to full training this morning following nine months on the sidelines.
The 22-year-old suffered a devastating cruciate knee ligament injury in January, which required surgery and a gruelling rehabilitation schedule.
He carried out a portion of his recovery with English outfit Fulham – where his father, Peter Grant Sr, acts as Academy Manager – and has recently been working in the gym to build his fitness.
However, Grant will finally take part in full contact training at the Falkirk Stadium today as he nears a comeback, with the under-20s fixture against Dundee United next Tuesday pencilled in for his first outing.
“Peter Grant will join us for full competitive training on Thursday,” revealed Houston.
“He hurt his back – it was sore because he was working too hard in the gym – and that set him back a few days, because he was probably going to start back at the beginning of the week.
“But he’ll be back on Thursday and we’ll see how things go.
“We’ve targeted the under-20s game against Dundee United coming up soon to get him 30 or 45 minutes – we’ll let him decide what he plays.
“His fitness levels are really good so the next step is to join us for full-contact training.”
However, Houston is adamant he will not rush the young stopper back into action – particularly given the Bairns current run of results.
Falkirk have registered four successive victories, conceding just two goals in the process, as they recapture the form of last season.
“He’ll need a few under-20s games and we’re not going to rush him back into the team,” continued Houston. “There’s no need to do that.
“David McCracken has been in for four games and we’ve won four games. Luca Gasparotto has been doing well, maybe for having that bit of experience beside him, and Paul Watson will be frustrated being on the bench. Peter will need to fight for a place as well.”
