The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
More frustration for Pars defender
Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford admits his ‘ heart goes out’ to Lewis Martin after the defender was told he requires a longer lay-off.
The former Scotland under-19 internationalist has been sidelined all season with an injury stemming from his calf.
The Pars sought a second opinion after the 24-yearold struggled to shake off the problem, which had started affecting his foot.
And, with the versatile stopper having missed all but two matches of the 2018-19 season because of a troublesome groin injury, Crawford has confessed he has to help look after the player’s mental as well as physical wellbeing.
He said: “Lewis is still out. He was told to take more time just to try and let the tendon settle down.
“He has also had a problem with his outside toe on his right foot.
“Unfortunately he is restricted to doing very little.
“My heart goes out to Lewis because I thought that he was fantastic for us last season.
“He is a great boy who has possibly not played as many games as he would have liked.
“This season he will have been desperate to play his part.
“It is part of our responsibility as a coaching staff and as manager to look after Lewis and try and keep him in a happy place because it will be a very frustrating
time for him at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Crawford is sweating over the fitness of summer signing Steven Whittaker for Saturday’s derby against Raith Rovers.
● East Fife assistantmanager Tony McMinn has been hit with a Scottish FA charge of misconduct.
McMinn has been served with a notice of complaint following an alleged breach of discipline during the 2-0 League One defeat to Par tick Thistle on November 21.
Darren Young’s number two was sent to the stand in the closing stages of the loss at Firhill after being shown a red card by referee Duncan Williams.
M cM inn has been charged with breaching disciplinary rule 203, which states that ‘no member of team staff shall commit misconduct at a match’.
The 41-year-old faces a possible touchline ban when his case his heard on December 10.