Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre has revealed that winger Willie Gibson is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a virus that left him hospitalised.
Gibson has arguably been the Pars’ main man as they have progressed to the top of the first division table. It now looks like Dunfermline will have to cope for several weeks without him as he works his way back to full health and fitness.
“Willie Gibson picked up a severe viral infection a couple of weeks ago,” said McIntyre. “It was so bad he had to spend a couple of days in hospital but he is now back home recovering and taking antibiotics.
“He is not allowed to start training for at least another three weeks and it looks like being a long, slow process until he is back playing again.
“It is a major blow for the club and Willie himself, but you cannot take any chances with these things. He is suspended for the next two games anyway so if there was ever a right time to pick up an illness, then this is probably it.”
Like everyone connected with the club, McIntyre was upset when Sunday’s eagerly anticipated derby against Falkirk had to be called off because of a frozen section of the East End Park pitch.Derby congestionHowever, after having come to an agreement with Cowdenbeath to play them tomorrow night, and with a visit to Raith on Sunday, the Pars boss is now looking forward to two Fife derbies in the space of five days.
“I was very disappointed by the call-off as it was a huge game for both clubs and we have lost a lot of revenue,” said McIntyre.
“But it was definitely the right decision as there was a strip about a metre wide up the middle of the park that was still frozen. I was absolutely gutted for the ground staff who had put in so much work to try to ensure the game went ahead.
“However, we were able to train on the pitch on Sunday and today and I am sure the players will have benefited from being back on grass again after so many indoor sessions recently. We now have two derbies to look forward to. I was delighted we were able to come to an agreement with Cowdenbeath to play on Wednesday as the last thing we wanted was a backlog of games.”
The switching of the fixture means Cowden can look forward to two crowd-pulling Fife derbies on successive Saturdays.
Jimmy Nicholl’s men now take over the February 12 date to play their postponed game against Dunfermline, which had been scheduled for Central Park on November 27, with Raith Rovers the visitors to Central Park on February 19.
Those two attractive matches should provide a welcome boost to the club’s cash-flow problems caused by the run of recent postponements.Cowden announced on Monday that tickets purchased for the original Pars game on November 27 will be valid for the new date.