Ding-dong fight for slot but Tony already a winner

TONY DINGWALL knows he’s got a fight on his hands to get on the pitch for Raith – but the winger admits he’s delighted to even be able to lace up his boots.

The Rovers ace got his first minutes since March last weekend, coming on for the last half-hour of the Challenge Cup win over Glenavon.

It has been a long and frustrating road back for the 25-year-old, who ruptured three ligaments in his ankle just as Raith were closing in on what proved to be a doomed play-off bid.

A trip to Clyde beckons today as John McGlynn’s table-toppers seek a seventh game unbeaten.

Dingwall said: “It’s just a relief. I know I’ve not got match sharpness yet, that will take another few weeks and the gaffer has talked to me about that as well.

“Just being out on the pitch again is a good feeling. Watching the games every single week, when I knew I couldn’t play, was hard going but now it’s completely different – you look forward to a Saturday.

“The gaffer, assistant Paul Smith, the chairman and the club have been absolutely brilliant. Everything I’ve needed they have done for me and they tried their best to get me back sooner. It just wasn’t to be.

“But I’m looking forward to the game, I know I’m going to have to maybe bide my time till I get a wee run in the team again with them doing so well and take my chance when I get back on the pitch.

“We want to win the league. Going into games like Saturday, going away from home, it’s a sticky game.

“But it’s a match we know we have got to go there and win if we want to win the league.”

Rovers thumped the Bully Wee 5-2 when the sides last met in August although that reverse kickstarted Clyde into a run of just one defeat in their next eight games.

Defender Barry Cuddihy said: “Raith ran over the top of us a wee bit but if you compare us from then to now we’ve improved a lot. We’re looking to go out there and put on a good performance and hopefully get a wee result.

“Compared to last month or so, most of the boys are back so we’re fit and raring to go.”