Dunfermline: Kane Ritchie-Hosler to miss two to three months

Following the friendly match with St Johnstone last night (Tuesday), assistant manager, Dave Mackay, said that the 20-year-old was set to for surgery tomorrow (Thursday) on an ankle injury suffered in training.

After a hugely successful loan spell last season, Ritchie-Hosler returned to the Pars in the close season, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal after leaving Rangers.

The former Manchester City academy star made 22 appearances as Athletic claimed the League One title, scoring three goals, including in the 5-0 win over Queen of the South that clinched their success.

The talented winger emerged as a key player in last season's League One title win. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Ritchie-Hosler started Dunfermline's first pre-season game, the loss to FC St Pauli last month, but was absent for the second, a 1-1 draw at Cove Rangers, last Wednesday.

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He was again absent for the Saints match and, speaking afterwards, Mackay said: "It's unfortunate but it's just an incident in training, an awkward one. He 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 ones 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."

Mackay, however, confirmed that Sam Fisher was substituted shortly before half-time against the Perth team as a precaution.

Dave Mackay has said the Pars are working on signings. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"Sam's fine as well. It was more precaution rather than anything," he added.

"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."

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