RUGBY INJURY CONCERNS FOR EK
League leaders head to Greenock for must-win game
Allan Steel has revealed East Kilbride are sweating on the fitness of key players ahead of Saturday’s showdown with title rivals Greenock Wanderers.
The Torrance House side lead the way in West Division One, sitting eight points ahead of second place Allan Glens having played two games more, and 14 clear of Greenock, who have three games in hand.
Steel knows his side can’t afford to slip-up in a four-horse race for the championship – which also includes third-place Garnock – and their task could be made even more difficult with injuries and absences threatening to dent their hopes.
The EK boss said: “We are missing our number eight in Evan Middleton who has work commitments and there’s a few nursing injuries.
“Paul Rosie is struggling a bit and that would be a huge blow because he’s such a big defensive unit for us.
“Jono Ford took a knock to his knee in the last game so we’ll need to see how he is recovering.
“We could really do with them being fit because we need as strong a squad as possible for this game.
“We’ll just need to see how they go in the run up to Saturday.
“It’s a massive game for us, but one I believe we can go and win.”
For EK to come away victorious, they will have to do something no other side has managed this season – beat Greenock on their own patch.
Steel added: “Greenock haven’t lost a game at home all season and they are very organised so we know it will be tough.
“We will have to be at our best to beat them - just like we were earlier in the season when we beat them at our place.
“We are going into the rest of the season with the mind-set that we have to win every game. That’s what it will take for any team to win this league I think, so it’s about trying to win every game.”
EK are returning to action after an enforced two-week break for the Six
Nations internationals and Steel has mixed feelings about their fortnight off.
“It’s been good and bad having the break,” he said.
“The players have been able to rest their bodies, but it would have been nice to get a wee run out before such a big game for us.
“The boys have trained hard in the gym to keep their fitness up, but the weather hasn’t allowed us to do much outdoors.
“It’s not ideal going into this game with little in the way of contact sessions.”
Kick-off at Fort Matilda on Saturday is 3pm