Tommy’s anguish as unlucky defender awaits knee diagnosis
Watson has impressed recently St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright says he has been left ‘absolutely gutted’ by Keith Watson’s latest injury scare.
The Perth club is still waiting to hear about the severity of the defender’s freak knee injury, which happened earlier this week during a gym session.
It’s another harsh setback for Watson, who had been impressing for Saints, and Wright can’t believe how unlucky the 27-year-old has been this season.
“Keith hurt his knee in a freak accident in the gym,” Wright explained.
“He heard a pop in his knee and his movement is restricted. I don’t want to speculate about what has happened. He is gutted but we just have to deal with it when the diagnosis comes through.
“Let’s hope the report is positive. But, as his manager, I am absolutely gutted for Keith that he has picked up another injury. It has come at a time when he has come into the side and done extremely well for us.
“He hasn’t had trouble with the knee since he was a kid at Dundee United.
“We’ve had to get that scanned and we are awaiting the consultant’s report now. We have to get to the bottom of it.
“Hopefully we will have a better idea in the next day or two.
“It is concerning because Keith has worked extremely hard and it is very disappointing for him to have picked up another injury.”
Wright revealed that Watson, formerly of Dundee United and St Mirren, is always terrific in training. Now the Perth manager is hoping for positive news.
“Keith is probably the best trainer we have got and that says a lot given the guys we have here,” Wright told the Perthshire Advertiser. “I see how hard he works every day.
“He had a full season at St Mirren and had been fine before that. We gave him the strictest medical any player has had here in the last five or six years, so it is so frustrating for him. He is just so unlucky.
“I know injuries are part and parcel of football but I must say this is the most disappointed I have been for a player. Let’s hope it is something that can be easily fixed.”
With Watson ruled out of this weekend’s trip to Motherwell, Wright confirmed that Steven Anderson and David Wotherspoon will also
Watson with Kieran Tierney be missing for Saints, who head to Fir Park facing a side with a new manager after caretaker Stephen Robinson was handed the reins permanently this week.
“Steven Anderson won’t make Saturday and neither will David Wotherspoon, who had a scan which showed just a slight strain in his thigh,” Wright said. “They should both be OK for the next one. And Chris Millar is fit for this weekend.
“Zander had a wee knock on his hip but he is over that and is training.
“Motherwell have a new manager but Robbo has been in charge for the last few games so I don’t think much will change.
“We are just concentrating on ourselves. We are close to guaranteeing top six and want to get that done as soon as possible.
“One of our best performances of the season was at Motherwell early in the season when we won 2-1. We were superb that day. Now we have to back up the win over Dundee.”