Hartley being careful to ease key man Fyvie back into Cove action

Cove Rangers boss Paul Hartley will not rush Fraser Fyvie back from his knee injury.

Fyvie has not played since the 1-1 friendly draw with Dundee at Dens Park at the end of September, where he went off after a collision with Finlay Robertson.

T he midfielder has twice sustained cruciate ligament damage in his career, with Hartley a team-mate of his at Aberdeen when he first suffered the injury as a teenager.

Hartley feels the Scottish Cup winner is not too far away from action, but it is not prepared to push him back into action until he is ready.

He said: “He’s still feeling a niggle in his medial ( ligament). He’s doing all the running so hopefully he’s not too far away. He’s putting the work in.

“He’s had injuries over the past few years so he’s tough mentally. With any player, you know your own body, what’s right and what’s wrong.

“With Fraser it was unfortunate – he didn’t think it was too bad. The key thing is kicking the ball and he’s such a key player for us.

“Players have been without football for so long. You’re going to get people getting injured, picking up muscle injuries. If they miss a couple of games that’s fine, it’s more about long-term.”

Hartley has an otherwise clean bill of health for the trip to Balmoor this afternoon to face Peterhead.

Seb Ross, Rory McAllister and Ryan Strachan all featured in the opening-day win over East Fife after recovering from knocks.

The two clubs have not faced each other in the league since their days in the Highland League, which Peterhead left in 2000 to begin their journey in the SPFL.

They did, however, play in the Betfred Cup at the start of last season, with Pe t e r h e a d emerging victorious 2-1.

Blue Toon boss Jim McInally has been in charge since 2011, which Hartley points to as a dying art in football.

He added: “He’s the longest-serving manager in Scottish football – you don’t find that too often. It’s testament to him and his board that they’ve got a good understanding with each other.

“I’ve got a good working relationship with our chairman and that’s key, that you understand each other.

“There’s times when it won’t go so well, but if you ’ve got an understanding of that and you’re trying to do the right things, it helps.”

Victory for Cove would make it two wins out of two in League One, after their 3-1 win over Darren Young’s side.

Hartley said: “It would be a great start, but we know every game is tough.”

Cove midfielder Fraser Fyvie is not far off full fitness.