Jinxed Vaughan sets sights on derby return

Lewis Vaughan’s injury jinx has struck again – but the Raith Rovers star could be back in time for next week’s Fife derby.

Vaughan made his comeback back in October following 13 months out with a third cruciate knee ligament rupture, only to then be sidelined by associated hamstring problems.

Following further surgery to remove scar tissue, the 25-year-old made a welcome return to action last month – but only after being one of the Raith players who tested positive for Covid-19.

After completing his first 90 minutes in two years in the league win against Dundee, the attacker had to be substituted at halftime in the 4-1 defeat to Dunfermline at the start of the month.

Manager John McGlynn insists the niggling thigh problem is nothing major but has ruled Vaughan out of this weekend’s clash with Alloa as Rovers play it safe ahead of the visit of Dunfermline a week on Friday.

He said: “It looks like Lewis will struggle for this weekend with his thigh.

“It’s not responding to treatment as well as anyone would like, so we’ll give him more time to get more rehabilitation on it.

“It’s natural to pick up other injuries when you’ve been out for so long, so we just have nurse him along.

“It’s a tightness in the thigh and it’s been two weeks now since he last trained with the team, so we’ll have to break him back in gently.”

Meanwhile, Brad Spencer is also doubt for the visit of Alloa after pulling out of the team for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat away to Arbroath.

“Brad has a sickness bug and had to pull out just before kick-off against Arbroath.”