Dave Mackay reveals Kane Ritchie-Hosler is expected to be out for 8 to 12 weeks
Listen to this Dave Mackay interview
Kane Ritchie-Hosler could be out for twelve weeks confirmed Dave Mackay in his post match comments. He revealed the 20 year old requires surgery on his ankle after sustaining an injury in training.
Speaking after the pre-season friendly Dave commented:-
“It was a decent game I thought for a pre-season game. It was played at a good tempo, a few decent challenges involved, so it was a good work out against a good side.”
Another game where you got everything you wanted out of it?
“I thought the first 25 minutes or so we were excellent. We moved the ball really well, created a lot of chances. Obviously, we only scored one of them, which was disappointing, but, on the whole, I thought there was real good passages of play. At times they had spells as well. The last 15-20 minutes of the first half, they were the better team, had us on the back foot, but the second half was a wee bit end-to-end. It was a good workout. At this stage of the season, the boys have played a lot of minutes now, they’re looking fit, so we’re in a good place.”
Can see more match sharpness coming?
“Definitely. They’re still going to be tired. Even yesterday, they worked hard on the training ground; it was a tough session at a high tempo, and we ask them to go again. A lot of boys have played a lot of 90 minutes now, the likes of Aaron Comrie, who’s played every minute of pre-season, and still looks as fresh as anybody towards the end. The boys are really fit. They’re looking good in those terms, and we’re starting to play some good stuff. There’s stuff we need to work on off the ball, which will get better, but it’ll come over time.”
Able to play a number of subs?
“In terms of the young boys, they’ve had little bits and pieces here, but in terms of the first team squad, they’ve all played a fair bit of games now. Kyle Benedictus coming back in, it was important to get a good run into him, and Rhys Breen, coming back, played 60-odd minutes, Matty Todd. It’s good to have a few of the boys back. The only one missing is Kane Ritchie-Hosler, but the rest of them are looking good.”
What is keeping Kane out?
“It’s unfortunate but it’s just an incident in training, an awkward one, bumped into Matty Todd and he’s hurt his ankle. He’s needing surgery. He’ll be getting an operation, on I think it’s Thursday he’s booked in for, so he’ll be missing for the next two or three months, which is disappointing for him, because he was so good for us last season. He came in looking really fit pre-season, but it’s just one of those one’s that’s just innocuous, and he’s just came off it the worst.
“We’re gutted for him first and foremost. He’s a young kid and we don’t want to see him injured, but it’s not an injury that’s going to really affect his career going forward. It’s something that will get tidied up, it’ll get fixed, and we expect him back in the next 8-12 weeks, sometime round about then.”
Sam Fisher went off just before half time, how is he?
“Sam’s fine as well. It was more precaution rather than anything. The boys have worked very hard. Sam’s played a lot of minutes as well pre-season, and you just have to be careful if there’s any doubt whatsoever. He wanted to go back on, but we made the decision just to take him off and be a wee bit cautious with that one.”
How weird was it facing your old team?
“No I’ve faced them with Dundee as well a number of times, in the Premier League season, so I’ve faced them quite a few times. It’s good to see some of the boys again, like Macca – it’s the first time obviously since he’s been the manager. I see Liam Craig involved with the first team now, so a lot of familiar faces.”
