Steven Anderson – update

Steven Anderson’s run of atrocious luck since joining the ‘Loons’ in mid-August has been well documented.

The defender signed following his release from St. Johnstone where he attained legendary status, picked up a hip injury in the pre-season friendly at Arbroath which ruled him out for over two months.

He made his much-anticipated return to action in the friendly against Dundee last midweek and consequently made his league debut for the Athies against Partick Thistle on Saturday past.

Sadly that debut lasted less than ten minutes when he collapsed in the visitor's penalty area with what has turned out to be an Achilles injury.

Although the full prognosis has still to be received once the swelling has receded, it looks likely that Steven will be out of action for at least the remainder of the campaign, a severe blow not only to the player himself but to all involved at Station Park.

Who could ever have imagined that by Christmas the club would be in the potential position of having three central defenders, Darren Whyte, Michael Travis the other two, of course, sidelined till at the very earliest the start of the 2021/2 season.

With finances so tight, as they are at all clubs in present circumstances, finding suitable replacements in the January window will be no easy task for Stuart and his management team.

On the plus side, Gary Irvine should be available for this Saturday’s trip to East Fife, having missed the Partick fixture while he completed a period of isolation after a close relative tested positive for Covid 19.