KEEPER IS RULED OUT FORWEEKS
Currie facing time on the sidelines
Stirling Albion have been dealt a blow after it was confirmed that goalkeeper Blair Currie is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The summer signing from Clyde was forced off in the 1-1 draw with Queen’s Park at Hampden 10 days ago and a scan has showed there is substantial muscle damage.
Cammy Binnie was between the posts for Saturday’s game against Edinburgh City and performed well in the 1-0 defeat to the title chasers, who scored in stoppage time through Allan Smith.
Next up is a local derby with Stenhousemuir at Ochilview this weekend before 2020 begins with a trip to Coatbridge to face Albion Rovers on Saturday, January 4.
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz said: “It’s a significant injury Blair has – the scan showed a muscular injury in the hip/groin/ thigh area. It’s a tear and it’s a hard one to put a timescale on but he is likely to be out for at least six weeks – it could be five weeks or it could be 10.
“I thought Cammy came in and was excellent – he took some crosses and showed safe hands. His kicking was good and he did himself no harm at all. I have 100 per cent confidence in him to establish himself as the No 1. It’s just about consistency and he needs to keep that going – if he does then Blair will have a difficult job to dislodge him when he is fit again.
“We want someone to come in and compete with Cammy so hopefully we can find that with a loan in January but young Jay Elliot will probably be on the bench again for the Stenhousemuir game.”
Rutkiewicz was hugely frustrated that his side conceded so late against Edinburgh City, having also let two points slip away in the 1-1 draw at Queen’s Park the previous week.
He added: “I think we deserved a draw; there wasn’t much in it. Edinburgh were a threat from setplays but I didn’t feel they were that much of a threat from open play. Dylan Mackin hit the post and we had other chances but we were a bit flat-footed and didn’t anticipate things. It was a harsh way to lose with the goal at the end but we have been on the bad end of that far too often.
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“There’s an issue there but we’ll keep looking at getting the right blend and if we need to play a bit uglier we will do that. I still believe we are a good team and I think we have shown that today. It’s a horrible way to lose – I feel for the boys in that respect because they have put so much into it but unfortunately we have got nothing from the game.
“We have to pick the players up because we have got to win the next two games. It’s really plain and simple and maybe that clarity is what the players need. I’ll make sure the players I select will be motivated to win the games. We will train on Monday and on Boxing Day for the Stenhousemuir match and go there looking to win.
“My train of thought is to climb this league – we are seven points off the play-offs and that’s where I’m looking at. We need to give the fans something – the boys dug in and gave everything but we need to turn chances into goals and find a way to win these games.”