Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dunfermline manager Crawford pleased to see Thomson return
DUNFERMLINE boss Stevie Crawford has expressed his delight after midfielder Joe Thomson made his l ong-awaited comeback from a knee injury.
The 22-year-old played for the first time in seven months when he turned out against old club Celtic in the Reserve Cup clash at East End Park yesterday.
Thomson featured for the first 45 minutes in the 1-0 defeat as he stepped up his recovery from the cruciate knee ligament damage he suffered against Ayr United i n March.
Crawford is thrilled to see the playmaker take another important stride towards a first-team return but insists he will remain cautious with the popular player after so long out.
He said: “It’s a big step for Joe, even just to get back on to the grass.
“To get t hrough t he 45 minutes will be good for his own mind-set and great for the medical staff and spor ts scientist Gary McColl, who have put a good bit of work i nto getting him there as well.
“Joe being Joe, he will tell you he’s fit to go and play in the next first-team game.
“But, in terms of getting him to the levels we’re hoping to, and to make sure he’s fully recovered, he’s still a wee bit away yet.”
Meanwhile, Crawford has warned the Pars they face a difficult task in progressing in the Scottish Cup after being handed a trip to Stranraer i n the third round.
Next month’s tie pitches the Fifers against t he League One strugglers but Crawford admits the draw could have been kinder.
He added: “In cup games you want to be playing at East End Park, so it’s a tough one. It will be a tough 90 minutes, for sure, and one in which Stranraer will fancy their chances.”