JAMES MCPAKE is hopeful injuries picked up at Partick Thistle will clear up in time for this afternoon - and praised the midweek performance of trialist Dapo Mebude.
Dunfermline entertain Queen's Park at KDM Group East End Park and the boss is confident David Wotherspoon, who went off with a hamstring problem at Firhill, will be fit to feature.
He was replaced by Matty Todd, making his first appearance of the campaign after suffering a fractured collarbone in pre-season, who the Pars boss also reported would be fine to be involved.
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Tommy Fogarty, who was also substituted against the Jags with an eye injury, said he "should be available" after suffering an eye injury, whilst McPake was waiting to see whether goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi, who was on the bench after picking up a "small niggle", would be ready to play.
"Matty is fine. He looked shattered come the end of the game, but that's natural," McPake explained this week.
"He has had a good week this week, we chose not to play him in the reserve game (against Falkirk on Tuesday) because I think he got what he needed out of the game on Saturday. I expect to have David Wotherspoon for Saturday. We are waiting to see how Tobi is come the end of the week.
"Although he is back running, Bene (Kyle Benedictus) is the only one who will be unavailable.
"I had to stress after the game on Saturday we had a couple of injuries in the first half, and how does that affect you when you lose certain players. I have been sat in press conferences after games or before games, and bemoaned the fact that I don’t have enough players, but now it is great.
"The squad is good, the training is good because of that, then you could see the strength of the reserve team on Tuesday. Last year, in a few reserve games we were very careful not to even expose players to a midweek reserve game - we needed to protect as much as we could.
"It is much better like this."
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Speaking about his recovery from the injury he sustained at Firhill, on-loan Birmingham City centre back Fogarty said: "To be honest I’m okay now.
"There were a couple of days of soreness, but the doctors knew straight away that I’d be okay in the long run. I just had to give it the time it needed to open up again.
"As soon as I’ve been able to see I have been alright and gearing back up to getting back involved.
"After 24 hours I could see a bit more normal, but Wednesday was the first day when it was completely normal. There was still a bit of swelling but now it is just bruised.
"There are obviously protocols that you have to follow when things like this happen but as long as I can train fine I should be available for selection."
Meanwhile, In midweek, the reserves defeated Falkirk 3-0 in the Reserve League Cup, a game that featured Mebude.
The former Rangers and Scotland under-21 player has been training with the club, and featured as a trialist.
He provided an assist for Taylor Sutherland's opener, before scoring the second goal, with Jake Sutherland wrapping up the victory.
"He was excellent," McPake noted.
"I have known and watched him since he was 17. He has had a horrific time and he is now looking to get his career back on track.
"Credit to the lad, he has come in, worked really hard and he is a good player."
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