Double injury blow for gutted gaffer Duffy

Manager Jim Duffy has been dealt a double injury blow after learning that both Ross Forbes and Jai Quitongo face lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Striker Quitongo has been absent since coming off the bench to net a late winner in our Scottish Cup fourth round tie away at Dunfermline on Saturday 20 January and has now been told he requires surgery.

Midfielder Forbes, meanwhile, last featured for the first-team in a 2-0 loss to Dundee United at Cappielow on 9 December last year but looks set to sit out the rest of the season due to severe knee bruising.

Speaking exclusively to www.gmfc.net, a gutted Duffy said: “Jai has just met with a consultant and he’s suffered a little tear to the cartilage in his knee.

“It’s not related to the knee injury he had before, but he needs a cartilage operation and he’s going to be missing for the foreseeable future.

“How long he’ll be out for, we don’t know, but it’s going to be a number of weeks. Obviously at this stage of the season, the boy is devastated, and we’re gutted for him.

“From our point of view, too, because we were hoping he would have a strong finish to the season and he could really make a major impact. It doesn’t look as though that will be the case just now.

“Ross Forbes is the same. He’s got severe knee bruising, and the condition means he has to rest to let that settle. The rest period is at least two months so pretty much writes him off for the rest of the season.

“They’re two major players for us who will be missing for a significant period of time, and at this stage of the season, that’s a blow for the players and for the team.”

Image: David Bell