Brechin midfielder Euan Smith’s season is over after it was confirmed that he has torn his cruciate ligaments.
The 22-year-old was carried off after twisting his knee less than half-an-hour into City’s victory at Alloa on Christmas Eve and now the results of a scan have confirmed everyone’s worst fears.
It is a huge setback for player and club as they prepare for today’s League One clash with Queen’s Park at Glebe Park.
Manager Darren Dods said: “We are expecting Euan to be out for seven to eight months and all our thoughts are with him.
“A consolation for him could be that these types of injuries are not seen as career-ending nowadays and he is only 22 so has time on his side.
“Nevertheless, it is a serious injury and all of us at the club wish him all the best.”
Brechin, of course, have not had their injury troubles to seek this season.
James Dale has also been sent for a scan but should only be out for a couple of weeks, while Chris O’Neil was on the bench for the 1-0 defeat at Albion Rovers and will be in the squad again but is short of match fitness.
On the plus side, Dougie Hill will be free to face the Spiders and recent recruit Liam Watt has suffered no reaction after playing last weekend.
Connor McLennan missed the Rovers game through injury but will be OK for this one.
City need to bounce back after two consecutive defeats to Rovers and Peterhead but, as Dods pointed out, the damage has been limited.
Dods said: “We need to get back on track after a couple of defeats but the way it has gone means we are still only two points off Alloa in second place.
“That is a positive and we did play well for the first half against Albion Rovers.
“I think we had something like 70% possession at one stage but they came back at us in the second half.”
