Frustration for McGlynn as Raith pick up further injuries in pre-season friendlies

The Kirkcaldy side played three pre-season friendly matches over seven days and, while the Rovers boss was happy with the exercises in general, there was frustration with new signing Gozie Ugwu picking up a knock.

Speaking to the Press McGlynn said: “Playing three games in the space of a week is demanding at any time but especially considering the players have been off for six months.

“The process is coming along well but we picked up some injuries which is a blow.

“Every game we’ve had 3-4 players out, we have a squad of 22 but that includes goalies so it’s more like 18 and you take injuries in to account and it’s more like 14.

“It’s a lot to ask but it’s about building up and trying to get everyone up to speed, everyone needs to get minutes on the pitch as best they can to give them the chance to challenge for a place.

“It was good to get Iain Davidson back on the pitch, he was on for an hour or so, and we’re hoping Frankie Musonda will be available come this weekend. It would have been nice to get everyone back but that’s not going to happen with Gozie getting injured.

“We’ve never had the five new singings available at once yet but hopefully this will resolve itself and hopefully we’re not too far away from getting them all available but as soon as you get one back you seem to lose another.”

Overall McGlynn was happy with the test the three matches provided despite some negatives and, weighing it all up, feels things are moving along nicely to the start of competitive action.

He said: “The Dundee United match was a very good game against a very young and fit side and I felt we matched them in every department and excelled at times.

“The Falkirk game was our second game in the process, it wouldn’t have mattered if it was Barcelona or Kirkcaldy YM.

“The result wasn’t significant because it was Falkirk, It didn’t matter who it was as we didn’t have our strongest 11 available.

“We took an early lead with a well worked goal and young Quinn (Coulson) getting his first goal in his first start. Falkirk got themselves 2-1 up with a soft penalty and a counter attack.

“We got the goal back at the start of the second half but lost another goal two minutes later, we never got a footing in the game and then didn’t defend set plays and got caught on the counter.