Nick Summersgill has been working extra hard this week, in an attempt to shorten the Saints injury list. The queues for the physio’s bench have been growing in the last fortnight. As a stroke of good fortune, Saints have a break this weekend, and it falls at a good time. All the following would have been unavailable for selection this Saturday: Paul Bernard (ankle); Mark Reilly (ankle); Mark Robertson (knee); Simon Donnelly (knee); Brian McLaughlin (groin) and Lovering (foot). They fall alongside veteran injury victims, Connolly and Weir. With such a backlog of injuries where does this leave a manager with a tight ship when his team are already stuttering?
Last Saturday he was forced into selecting Donnelly and Reilly who were sporting problems. Reilly required an injection prior to the game, and Donnelly had his knee well strapped. Billy Stark said "Some of the lads were carrying knocks into the game against Ayr and are suffering for it now."
Billy Stark remains upbeat about some of the victims;
"If we can get Brian training next week he might have a chance of making the County game. But right now, the best placed are Reilly and Donnelly. They should train on Monday."
For all those joining Summersgill’s queue, Chris Hay must be nearly ready to check out. He scored again in Tuesday night’s reserve draw against Forfar. Billy Stark said "It will be good to have options in the goalscoring department." With four players vying for the starting berths. "Mixu and Keigan have a decent record so far, but it will be good to have all the strikers fit again. Getting Chris fit again is like signing a new player."