Lewis is still one of best
John McGlynn knew Lewis Vaughan was special when he first clapped eyes on him at 14.
So the Raith Rovers boss was delighted when the striker made his first start of the Championship campaign against Hearts on Tuesday after three long years of knee surgery and mental torment,
McGlynn missed a few months himself with pancreatitis but reckons that was nothing to what Vaughan has experienced.
He is full of admiration for the 25- year- old, claiming he is still his best player, and said: “I’ve known Lewis since he was 14 when he first came to Raith Rovers.
“To go through what that boy’s gone through and the dark nights he must have had – he’s shown incredible mental strength. My illness was
for a matter of months. He’s had three cruciates in three years. He’s had Gilmore’s groin and two hernia operations thrown in too. It’s unbelievable.
“But his enthusiasm for the game is fantastic. Whenever he comes back into training, he raises the standard and looks like our best player.
“If he’d been injury free, Lewis would be playing at a higher level. There’s no doubt about that.
“He might still do and I hope he does.
“He’s got the lot, he’s such a good footballer. He’s a real talent and a special player.”
Vaughan has been joined in Kirkcaldy by on-loan Rangers kid Kai Kennedy – and McGlynn admits he was stunned to get the hot prospect.
He said: “Kai played against us for Inverness and did exceptionally well.
“I couldn’t believe when we got the call to see if we’d be interested in taking him. When you get an opportunity like that, you don’t knock it back. He’s a special talent.”