Family comes first for Tanser after car crash

SCOTT TANSER has been ruled out of St Mirren’s Premiership fixture at Hibernian today after being involved in a car crash earlier this week. Buddies boss Stephen Robinson yesterday confirmed that the 28-year-old defender emerged from the incident unscathed but would be granted leave to tend to his wife, who was injured. The Northern Irishman said: ‘Unfortunately, Scott Tanser was involved in a car crash the night before last. ‘He, luckily enough, is okay but won’t be available for Saturday. Unfortunately, his wife is not as good and we wish her a speedy recovery as well. ‘It puts football into perspective, doesn’t it? His kids weren’t in the car but his wife has been injured and hopefully she will have a quick recovery and everyone is okay. ‘Our focus is making sure him and his family are okay, first and foremost, and hopefully maybe getting him back in next week. But, at the moment, he needs to make sure family are okay.’

Robinson, meanwhile, insists he is not surprised that Australian midfielder Keanu Baccus is attracting outside attention and accepts it is inevitable he will be lured away from Paisley. The 24-year-old is reportedly being monitored by English Championship pair Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town after impressing since his move from Western Sydney Wanderers in the summer. ‘He has been terrific, a bundle of energy, a breath of fresh air since he came in,’ said Robinson, who also insisted he is not paying ‘much attention’ to talk linking him with the vacant Northern Ireland job after Ian Baraclough was sacked. ‘It is absolutely no surprise that people are looking at Keanu. We are a club that unfortunately have to sell players. I have no doubt that at some stage Keanu will go and play at a higher level but, at the minute, we are desperate to keep him.’