Star striker Vaughan on verge of comeback

RAITH: ‘Massive player’ could even be on bench for weekend’s game

Raith boss John McGlynn has revealed Lewis Vaughan has made a successful return to full training – and could even take a place on the substitutes’ bench against Dumbarton tomorrow.

The 22-year-old has not played since the game against league leaders Arbroath on October 6 after suffering a groin problem that needed operating on.

The front man, who netted 23 times for Rovers last season, has now completed his rehab and McGlynn welcomed the return of a player who is “different class”.

The manager said: “We are getting our injuries cleared up. Lewis Vaughan has been back in full training for almost a week. So he is on the fringes of it now which is another bonus.

“He could even possibly be on the bench against Dumbarton.

“It is good to get him back in training. It is very much like when I came back to Raith Rovers – you see him in training and he is different class.

“Obviously he got the injury and has been out for a number of weeks, seven or eight.

“But then he comes back in and he just lifts the quality of the training so he is a great player to have back.

“In my first game, he scored within 30 seconds at Dumbarton so he is a massive player for us.

“He has been missed. Obviously you would want every player available for the whole duration of the season but we have come across these injuries, so it is very good to have Lewis back in.

“If he can contribute in assisting and scoring goals from now until the end of the season then that can only be good for him and us.”

McGlynn added: “Callum Crane is still out along with Regan Hendry who is longer term, but we are slowly but surely getting players back.

“Grant Gillespie has got a few more games under his belt now, Chris Duggan had three games for the reserves and came off the bench in our recent matches so the injury situation is clearing up.”

Raith will be looking to bounce back strongly when they face Dumbarton after last week’s disappointing 3-2 defeat at Montrose.

It is the first of three home games out of their next four matches, with McGlynn determined Stark’s will remain a fortress.

He said: “Yes, we have a good record here. Our away record was getting better with regards to winning at Stenhousemuir and at Hampden in the cup but we certainly have to do better on the road.

“However, we must maintain the record we have at Stark’s Park so it is good to have the three out of the next four here.

“We need to accumulate as many points as we possibly can.

“I still believe we are playing good football and we will look to continue doing that.

“But when you are on top you have to put the game to bed.

“We haven’t quite done that so much recently but we have been working on things and hopefully we can take our chances when they come along.

“We have to get back to winning ways here on Saturday.”

Unbeaten Arbroath are now 13 points ahead of Rovers but McGlynn reiterated: “We are not giving up at all on winning the league.

“Arbroath have done very well and I don’t think even they would have thought at the start of the season that they would have gone on this type of run – this is unheard of.

“So they have taken advantage that they are doing so well. We can’t do anything about them until we play them on the 22nd but we have to concentrate on this game first (against Dumbarton).

“You have to take your hat off to them, they have done superbly well but we aim to cut that gap and put a bit of pressure on them.”

You see him in training and he is different class. JOHN MCGLYNN

Picture: SNS.