Nisbet likely to return for Pars shortly

Dunfermline have been handed a huge boost in their promotion play-offs bid after it was revealed top scorer Kevin Nisbet is expected to return to training next week.

The 23-goal striker has proved pivotal to the Pars’ top-four push but has been sidelined with an ankle injury picked up in the recent victory over champions-elect Dundee United.

It was feared the 23-yearold would be out of action for six weeks because of ligament damage, but manager Stevie Crawford was keen not to put a timescale on the marksman’s recovery in the hope he would return sooner.

The former Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers frontman is responding well to treatment, with Crawford hopeful Nisbet will step up his bid for fitness after tomorrow’s encounter with Dundee.

He said: “Kevin is just progressing daily with this ankle injury of his.

“We are hopeful that he will be back in training next week at some point.

“The ankle is a strange one, you just have to watch as it has to take a lot of the weight bearing.

“We need to get him running on it and we will see where we are next week with that one.”

Meanwhile Dunfermline have also received positive news on the knee injury sustained by defender Lee Ashcroft.

The former Kilmarnock stopper had to be replaced in the closing minutes of the goalless draw with Arbroath last Wednesday and has since been sent for a scan.

The tests have identified an issue with the knee but nothing that is expected to keep the 26-year-old out for a lengthy spell.

Crawford, who revealed Ryan Dow has returned to training after a hamstring problem, added: “We got Lee scanned earlier in the week and it has come back showing a slight problem with his knee.

“That is not going to be a longterm injury but the weekend will come to soon.

“It is positive for Lee’s own piece of mind that he got the scan and he is working in the gym at the moment.”

Kevin Nisbet is nearing a return to action after an ankle injury.