Evening Telegraph (First Edition)

Ankle injury ends season for teenage Dundee star Robertson

- BY GEORGE CRAN

DUNDEE youngster Fin Robertson has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an ankle injury in training.

The highly-rated midfielder has struggled for game time this term after an impressive breakthrou­gh campaign last year.

And his tough second season has been ended prematurel­y after an innocuous training incident damaged his ankle.

Blocking a cross from Lyall Cameron, Robertson will now see a specialist to determine if surgery is required to sort the problem.

Manager James McPake said: “Unfortunat­ely, Fin Robertson’s season is over.

“He has had an ankle injury that has been scanned and he’ll be seeing a specialist to decide what the next stage is.

“It’s a shame for Fin. Again it is another hurdle he has to face in his career but he’s positive and ready for the battle to get himself back and he will be back for pre-season.

“We’ll support him in every way we can and get him right. He’s done ever so well for us.

“He’s had a wee lull but he was playing in the first team at 16 years old.

“His levels were always going to take a dip but this is another test for him.”

A Scotland U/19 internatio­nal, Robertson was named Dundee’s Young Player of the Season in his debut first-team season.

Despite his young age, the 18-year-old made an impressive impact and was expected to kick on once more into his second season and signed a three-year deal in September.

However, Robertson has struggled to force his way into a Dens midfield that has included senior players such as Charlie Adam, Graham Dorrans, Paul McGowan and Shaun Byrne.

Jordan McGhee and Robertson’s former academy team-mate Max Anderson have also shone in the middle.

Now, though, Robertson will have to concentrat­e on his recovery before staking a claim for a regular first-team place at Dens Park.

Meanwhile, another duo missing through injury, Osman Sow and Liam Fontaine, both trained yesterday.

Fontaine has been struggling with an Achilles problem picked up ahead of the win over Arbroath on March 13.

He was expected to return against Alloa on Friday but the game came too soon for the former Hibs man.

Sow injured a hamstring in training the day before Friday’s game but is expected to be available once more against Dunfermlin­e this weekend.

Long-term absentees McGhee and Alex Jakubiak are also stepping up their recoveries with the former being put through his paces on the pitch at Alloa prematch while the latter has started sprinting in training.

After picking up three points against the Wasps on Friday, manager McPake wasn’t surprised to see the rest of the top five fail to win in the Championsh­ip.

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