Another six weeks on sidelines for Murray

Dunfermline boss Stevie Crawford has revealed that Euan Murray faces another six weeks on the sidelines as he battles back from a horrific neck injury.

The 25-year-old has been absent since falling awkwardly during the Pars’ 1-1 draw against Queen of the South on August 10.

Murray rose to challenge for a high ball in the dying embers of the Championship clash and landed heavily on the Palmerston Park artificial turf.

He was initially ruled out for two months to recover and had stepped up his non-contact training regime prior to the international break in anticipation of getting the green light from doctors to return.

However, scans have shown that Murray’s neck is still not strong enough to withstand the rigours of first-team football and he has been told to rest the affected area.

“Euan was very keen to keep himself in very good condition in the hope that the results would say that he could resume playing again,” said Crawford.

“He had been joining in on some non-contact training but we received the unfortunate news that he would be out for a further six weeks.

“The scan came back and wasn’t the news we wanted.

“It’s about his safety and, until it clears up and there’s no risk, we need to be patient.

“We were hopeful, in the initial timeframe we were given, that would be the case.

“There were no signs that it would be bad news. He had been running and didn’t feel anything untoward.

“But it’s still at the stage where we need to look after his health. It’s not even worth contemplating the sort of risks Euan would be taking if we asked him to play.”

Crawford revealed he afforded Murray an extra few days away from the club as he came to terms with the prospect of not featuring until at least December.

Pars chairman Ross McArthur has also been in touch with the towering defender as the Fife outfit ensure they look after the player’s mental, as well as physical, wellbeing.

“The international break has given Euan a couple of weeks to wrap his head around that news,” said Crawford. “It’s not been easy for him, mentally.

“Sometimes football players are expected to just take things on the chin and get on with it. But we let Euan have a few days away.”

In further fitness woes for Crawford, midfielder Matt Todd is expected to miss around a month of action after sustaining an ankle injury last week, while Lewis McCann has suffered a cut hand which could make him a doubt for the visit of Ayr United on Saturday.

However, club captain Paul Paton has returned to training after missing the Pars’ last two Championship fixtures and is expected to be in contention to face the Honest Men.

Picture: SNS Group. Road to recovery: Euan Murray.