MORTON boss Dougie Imrie has a defensive headache in the build-up to tomorrow’s Premier Sports Cup Group F crunch clash with St Johnstone as he sweats over the fitness of Jack Baird and Morgan Boyes.
The defensive duo - who started on Tuesday night against Highland League side Brechin City - were forced off with shoulder and groin complaints respectively as Iain Wilson and veteran defender Kirk Broadfoot saw out the game in what turned into a makeshift defence.
And Imrie hopes that the need to come off in the 1-0 win was only a matter of precaution for both stoppers as he sweats over their availability for tomorrow’s trip to McDiarmid Park.
He told the Tele: “It was disappointing to have to make enforced changes against Brechin.
“Morgan Boyes came off with an issue in his groin and Jack Baird has come off with a complaint in his shoulder.
“We had to reshuffle the pack from there to see the game out. Kirk easily slotted into the middle of defence and then we had to finish the game with Iain Wilson in there beside him.
“It wasn’t ideal to pick up injuries as it disrupts the progress that we’re looking to make.
“Hopefully they’re just precautionary in coming off. We’ll need to get them assessed and then we’ll go from there with whatever outcome we get from that.”
However, he may be given some relief in the fact that former Raith man Dylan Corr might finally be able to see his first minutes in a Ton shirt.
Corr penned a two-year deal at Cappielow in what was widely regarded as a coup for Imrie as he went about assembling his squad for the upcoming season. But he’s yet to kick a ball in anger after dislocating his shoulder in training, as well as being struck down with a bug.
But he could make his Ton bow this weekend if Imrie sees fit, as he revealed the timeline that midfielder Nathan Shaw is working towards as well.
The manager said: “Dylan could have been on the bench on Tuesday night. But we’re being careful with him after the knock he picked up in training.
“He should be available to at least be listed on the bench this weekend, but we’ll need to see what news we get from Jack and Morgan first.
“Nathan will be ok. He’s just needed to be wrapped up in cotton wool a bit after his hamstring surgery at the end of last season.
“He will be back for the start of the league campaign.”
Group F remains wide open after results on Tuesday night saw Alloa and East Fife draw, as Ton moved level with St Johnstone before this weekend's game.
And Imrie insists it's about getting points on the board as and when it's possible in a league cup campaign that’s been littered with shocks in the opening two match days.
He added: “It is what it is, you just have to look at some of the results that we’ve seen already.
“The last few years have been ok for us, we got through the group last season and got Rangers.
“It’s still the early part of pre-season though for a lot of clubs and it’s not ideal.
“There were a few shocks again on Tuesday night so for us at this moment in time it's just about getting points on the board.”
Team News
Dougie Imrie is sweating over the fitness of both Jack Baird and Morgan Boyes following their premature departures in Tuesday night's win over Brechin.
This could see Dylan Corr thrown in at the deep end against St Johnstone.
Jordan Davies was carrying a knock off the back of Tuesday night's clash but is thought to have recovered well.
Nathan Shaw isn't going to be risked until the beginning of the league campaign.
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