The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Websterjoinsinjurylist
“THE DOC actually told me not to play. He thought it was a bit early and he had spoken to a couple of other experts who said that although the bone might have set, any sort of contact could make it go again, “said McCracken.
“He advised me to miss the game but I have not played a lot this year. We were also struggling with team selection because of the suspensions so for me, it was a big opportunity to play again.
“Look, it could happen three weeks down the line if someone was to connect with it but you just have to put that out of your mind.
“I was simply happy to get through the game unscathed.”
For someone who had been out for over a month, it might seem too much to expect him to play two full games in the space of 48 hours.
However, McCracken insists he will be able to do just that in the five-time postponed tie at Cowdenbeath tonight with Saints hoping to overcome the First Division strugglers to make it through to the next round against St Mirren.
He added: “The fitness against Hearts was abso- lutely fine. I have been working hard over the last few weeks doing full training and I have been doing a bit extra at the same time.
“I was probably lucky in a sense that it was an injury where I could still train a lot.
“So I should be fine for the Cowdenbeath game.
“It would be good just to get the game over with and hopefully progress to the next round.” STRIKER FINNIGAN had a successful knee operation a fortnight ago and will be out until at least the New Year, while defender Grassi had a fresh setback while recovering from his own knee problem and also underwent surgery at the start of the month, ruling him out for a further 12 weeks.
Kerr,
meanwhile,
is hopeful of returning soon following his knee injury, while O’Donnell (hamstring), Brian Easton (hamstring), Jamie McCluskey ( achilles) and forward Mark Stewart (knee) have also been among those sidelined in recent weeks.
Striker Steven Milne missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ross County after injuring a stomach muscle, although it is hoped he will be fit for the trip to Inverness this weekend.