Gallacher out for season

The club's horrible run of luck with injuries continued today with the news that goalkeeper Paul Gallacher will be out for the rest of the season.

The club's horrible run of luck with injuries continued today with the news that goalkeeper Paul Gallacher will be out for the rest of the season.

Paul's exploits between the posts have saved the Pars from conceding a lot more goals than we could have this season and his performances saw him recognised as the SPL "Player of the Month" in August.

Paul injured his shoulder in last month's game at Tynecastle when he fell awkwardly in the box and Hearts Rudi Skacel fell on top of him.  After that match Paul said to the Dunfermline Media Centre,

"I think I've got what's known as a sublux injury, where my shoulder has popped out when I fell but as I've turned it's come back in again".

In the days after that Paul couldn't move his arm enough to put it into the correct position for a medical scan and it's taken until now for that to happen. Manager Jim McIntrye took up the story on Thursday lunchtime:

"We received bad news last night about Paul Gallacher who has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Not only is it bad news for him, it's a huge blow to the club.  He has extensive damage to his shoulder and is away to see a specialist today to decide whether to operate or to go for a conservative form of treatment involving time and physiotherapy."

With only one fit goalkeeper in the squad, two things are now for certain; Chris Smith has an excellent opportunity to prove himself as an able replacement and there will be a new goalkeeping face around East End Park by the end of the month.  Jim said:

 "Chris Smith was the keeper that helped gain us promotion last season and is a great goalkeeper.  He had a couple of great saves against Celtic and we're hopeful that's given him confidence and he'll kick on from here.  One position we weren't looking to strengthen was in goals but now we need to do that. There is no other option.We need to go out and get a goalkeeper."

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