'It's difficult as he's been excellent': Raith Rovers boss Dougie Imrie on losing Charlie Telfer to hamstring injury
As if to perfectly illustrate the fact that football can be a cruel sport, Raith Rovers’ Charlie Telfer is currently facing three months on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring tear in three places at training last Wednesday.
The crushing blow for the 31-year-old former Airdrieonians midfielder came after he had made a very impressive start in Rovers colours, scoring once and providing an assist during a total of nine games across the Premier Sports Cup group stage and William Hill Championship.
Losing the influential star is also a blow for the man who brought him to Kirkcaldy on a two-year contract this summer, Raith manager Dougie Imrie.
Imrie told the Fife Free Press: “Charlie getting this injury is difficult for me because he has been excellent since he's come in.
"But more so for Charlie. He was playing the top of his game for us and he's picked up an injury. You can't guard against these things, these things that happen in parts of football.
"We just need to rally around Charlie and hopefully he's back as quick as he can.
"The safest possible way to make sure when he comes back he gets through the season unscathed from it.”
Ironically, Rovers’ injury list had been easing in recent weeks with the return of key men including striker George Oakley who scored a double in last weekend’s 4-0 home league win over Arbroath.
When asked about the absence through injury of Lewis Vaughan and Ross Millen, Imrie added: “It’s just continued progress and hopefully they're back in the not too distant future. I expect them to be back in a couple of weeks.”