Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre has been boosted by the return to training of Martin Hardie after more than two months on the sidelines.
The Pars midfielder has been plagued by a nagging ankle injury he initially picked up late on in the first game of the season against St Mirren.
Talisman Hardie, who played a massive part in the club’s promotion to the SPL last season, has not featured for the struggling Fifers since the 4-2 defeat to Motherwell at East End Park on August 27.
McIntyre is delighted to have the 35-year-old back in training after learning this week that he will be without Nicky Phinn and Kevin Rutkiewicz for at least another six weeks with hip and hamstring injuries respectively.
McIntyre said: ”Martin has trained well so far this week, and it’s been great to just see him back on the training pitch and getting involved with the lads again.
”It’s good news for us, especially given some of the bad luck we have had with injuries recently.”
McIntyre’s squad has been decimated by injury throughout the season, with Steven Bell, Andrew Barrowman, Joe Cardle and Liam Buchanan missing the weekend’s defeat to Dundee United.
Despite this, McIntyre won’t try to fast-track Hardie back into the first team ahead of this weekend’s clash at Hibs.
Photo David Wardle.