Pars to rally round Kane Star will be given ‘best of treatment’ for latest setback
JAMES MCPAKE has said that Kane Ritchie-Hosler will be given “the best of treatment” as he faces another potential spell on the sidelines.
The 21-year-old was taken off on a stretcher, following a seven-minute break in play, early in the second half of Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Arbroath with what the Dunfermline boss confirmed was a dislocated shoulder.
Popular winger Ritchie-Hosler was one of three Pars players substituted through injury.
Owen Moffat was taken off just after the hour mark, while Sam Fisher was replaced in the 66th minute after hobbling off with an ankle knock that McPake said would be * assessed.
The injuries for the home players, as well as a serious looking one for Arbroath’s Michael McKenna, who was also stretchered off as the game ended following 15 minutes of stoppage time, took the shine off a win that moved Dunfermline up to fourth in the Championship table.
The sight of Ritchie-Hosler in being helped from the field was a particular dampener, with the winger having already suffered knee and ankle injuries this season that each required surgery.
“I can keep saying I know how he feels because I’ve had serious injuries myself, but I’m not so sure I’ve had three different serious ones in the one season,” said McPake. “All we can really say on it is that we’ll give him the best of treatment.
“We’ll look after him but I don’t think that is going to help him tonight. He seems to be getting back in the team, getting back training well, and he was a real threat as well.
“They’re bad injuries as well. They can be painful. It is dislocated, and by the time he had come back in (to the dressing room), his shoulder wasn’t back in, so we don’t know the news. From experience, I’ve had one of those as well, and they’re not nice.
“We’ll look after him, and try and pick him up, because that’s now three injuries in less than half a season. We’re gutted for him, but everybody will get behind him.
“The players are in and they’re delighted they’ve got three three points - obviously, Wighton coming off the bench, is delighted he’s got two goals - but, deep down, they’re worried about their team-mate.
“The group’s good, we’ve got another couple coming back that have been supported by their teammates, and of course we’ll get behind Kane.”
Craig Wighton, whose double added to Josh Edwards’ opener, commented: “It’s a very close group so we’ll be there for him, whatever he needs.
“I’m gutted for him because he looked good, he’s looked sharp in training, but these things happen in football.
“I think every one of them (his injuries) has just been from nothing really. Even again tonight it didn’t look like there was much in it, and we thought he was fine at the side, and then they obviously called for a stretcher.
“Gutted for him, but he’s come back from the other two injuries good. Hopefully this will be his last one and he can help us towards the end of the season.”
Edwards added: “It’s a tough one for the boys to take. I feel sorry for wee Kane; he just can’t catch a break this year. Hopefully everyone comes back fit and we can get going again.
“Bene (Kyle Benedictus) and Breeny (Rhys Breen) are coming back soon as well, so we are looking forward to bringing them back into the team. Injuries happen a lot but we have had a fair share this season and that hasn’t helped us.”