Dunfermline striker Andy Kirk has admitted his season is all but over after picking up an ankle injury a month ago.
The Pars frontman’s right ankle was crocked in a challenge with Airdrie United’s Ryan McCann in the game on March 9.
He’s been getting intensive treatment from club physio Gerry Docherty and believes he could be back running by next week.
However, with the Fifers’ promotion hopes all but dead and buried, the club are unlikely to risk the 31-year-old Northern Ireland internationalist.
Instead, Docherty is likely to concentrate on getting Kirk fully fit in time for pre-season, even though the player is desperate to play.
He told Courier Sport, “I saw a specialist two weeks ago just to get the results of the scan I had. I don’t need an operation, which is good news.”
Kirk revealed he feared the worst when McCann collided with him.
“The boy caught me on the top of the ankle, and at the time I thought it was worse than it was.
“The scan showed there was a lot of fluid in the joint and I’d damaged two ligaments.
“There was bone bruising at the front as well.
“But we’ve got a really good physio at the club and he’s been working hard with me.”
The striker insisted there was still an outside chance he might make an appearance before the end of the season.
If he makes the last game he could line up against Airdrie United again.
“To be honest, I’m quite impatient and I’ve been trying to get back as quick as I can, but at the end of the day the physio’s not going to rush me back before I’m ready.
“When he feels the time is right to push on he’ll tell me.
“If I managed to get back for one or two games before the end of the season it would be a bonus for me.
“But I think the way we are at the minute we’re looking that if we can get everything settled down in the ankle and get everything right for pre-season and there are no more problems with it then we’ll be happy.”
Meanwhile, manager Jim McIntyre has had to add Neil McGregor to his injury list after the player picked up a thigh injury.