Mcglynn boost as experienced pair in line to return for Gayfield clash

Raith Rovers have been handed a massive boost with the news that a key duo have won their fitness race for this weekend.

Experienced keeper Jamie Macdonald and skipper Kyle Benedictus were both expected to miss last weekend’s postponed encounter with Ayr United because of injuries.

Macdonald limped out of the 1-0 win over Morton with a hamstring problem, while defender Benedictus had to be substituted during the previous week’s victory at home to Dundee with a thigh strain.

But both have trained this week and are in line to return to the starting line-up for the trip to face Arbroath.

Manager John Mcglynn said: “They’re important players for us. Jamie has had a brilliant season and Kyle had been very consistent until coming off against Dundee.

“To be fair to the guys who went in, they did very well also. But you want as many of your best players available as possible.

“They’ve both trained this week so are hopefully over things.”

Meanwhile, Mcglynn admits Raith are set to rip up their usual game-plan in the expectation of testing weather in Arbroath.

Dunfermline counterpart Stevie Crawford insisted their 2-0 defeat at Gayfield almost a fortnight ago should not have been allowed to finish because of “farcical” overhead conditions.

And Mcglynn has revealed footage of that storm-afflicted match has featured heavily in Rovers’ preparations this week.

He said: “The weather forecast suggests it will be very windy this weekend so I would anticipate a game very similar.

“That influences my team selection, of course, and we’ve been showing players the video analysis of the Dunfermline game and how the wind influenced the direction of the play.”

Raith Rovers’ away clash at Inverness CT on Friday March 12 will be live on BBC Scotland.