JAMES MCPAKE has vowed to help midfield star Matty Todd “come back a better player” after revealing he faces up to three months out.

The 22-year-old was taken off during the Viaplay Cup, Group F win over Annan Athletic last Tuesday evening after suffering an ankle injury, and went for a scan two days later to determine the extent of damage.

Following Tuesday evening’s victory at Albion Rovers which, ahead of the match between Kilmarnock and Raith Rovers last night (Wednesday), put his team top of their section and kept them in contention to progress, Pars boss McPake said that Todd will go under the knife next week and will spend a significant period on the sidelines.

“He will get surgery a week on Thursday, and he will be 12 weeks from the surgery,” he explained.

“I’ve been in that position. I’ve had my fair share of injuries and surgeries and, as much as it’s a blow to the team – of course it is, because he’s a really good player – but, as a young person, he’s obviously had his appendix, he had his nose job, and now he’s got this.

“He feels he can’t catch a break. If there’s anything we can use positives with, it’s an injury. I know that maybe sounds a bit daft just now, but, a week on Thursday, he gets his first tick in the box for getting back.

“He gets it repaired, and then I think this will be the first proper rehab he’s had to do, and he’ll come back stronger from that.”

Boyhood Pars fan Todd, a product of the now defunct Fife Elite Football Academy, made his top team debut in 2018 but, last season, came to the fore under the management of McPake and his number two, Dave Mackay.

READ MORE: Pars star Todd faces surgery in injury blow

His all-action style, which saw him net 11 goals in all competitions, ensured he was one of the first names on the team sheet, and saw him rewarded with a glut of player of the year accolades, and a nomination for PFA Scotland’s League One award.

Dunfermline Press: Matty Todd has been ruled out for 12 weeks. Matty Todd has been ruled out for 12 weeks. (Image: Craig Brown.)

In March, he put pen to paper on a fresh contract that ties him to Dunfermline until the summer of 2026, but he missed the final three games of the campaign due to having his appendix removed.

Todd was then absent for Athletic’s first two pre-season games, after undergoing surgery to rectify an issue with his nose, and McPake admitted that he was “gutted” for his player that he faces a longer period out.

“It takes you to a tough place when you’re doing rehab from a relatively serious injury, and you learn a lot about yourself,” he continued.

“Matty’s been excellent but, if he can get that extra five or 10 per cent in what he can push his body to, and we’ll help him during the rehab, then he’ll come back a better player.

READ MORE: 'There's a lot of work to do': Pars boss assesses Albion cup win

“Really, that’s the only positives you try and get from an injury. You need to use it in a way that you can come out of it with something. We’ll help Matty with that, but I’m gutted for him.

“It’s a sore one because he’s off the back of doing really well last season. He was looking great, getting to a very good level, and now he’s going to spend 12 weeks out, but that’s football.

“We just need to help the person and the player. He’s a human being after all. He’s going to be gutted and it’s going take a wee while for him to get back but we’ll help him.”

Dunfermline Press: James McPake said he was gutted for the midfielder.James McPake said he was gutted for the midfielder. (Image: Craig Brown.)

News of the extent of the injury suffered by Todd comes after team-mate, Kane Ritchie-Hosler, went under the knife earlier this month.

The 20-year-old, who joined the club in a permanent basis during the close season, picked up an ankle injury in training that also required an operation, which ruled him out for a period of two to three months.

Ritchie-Hosler played in Dunfermline’s opening friendly, against FC St Pauli, but has been unavailable since, and his absence has been another blow to Dunfermline, with the winger, who signed a three-year deal after leaving Rangers for KDM Group East End Park, having scored three goals in 22 games during a successful loan period last term.

Athletic open their Championship campaign at home to Airdrieonians a week on Saturday, in their next competitive match, and McPake was asked if there was any update on signings.

After Saturday’s game with Kilmarnock, he suggested that a new arrival was close to being confirmed and, when asked on whether it remained imminent, he added: “I didn’t say imminent, I said we were close. We’re still close!”