Modern day players 'getting battered from pillar to post', says Raith Rovers boss Dougie Imrie
Raith Rovers gaffer Dougie Imrie reckons the injuries sustained by George Oakley and Lewis Stevenson during Saturday’s 3-1 home Premier Sports Cup Group H win over Elgin City could have been triggered by the demands placed on modern day footballers.
With summer friendlies finished and players thrust into the competitive stuff again, Imrie feels this can increase the risk of such incidents happening.
“He (Oakley) will need a scan obviously,” Imrie told Raith TV post match. “He felt his hamstring so hopefully it’s not too serious.
"That’s why we had to take Stevo off as well, he felt his hamstring. So we’ll need to assess the two of them and see how it goes. But at this moment we don’t know the exact details of the injuries.
"It’s the nature of the game. The amount of work you need to put in in a short space of time. Players at the end of the season need a break.
"With the season starting back you’ve got to put so much into them. These things can happen. Players are getting battered from pillar to post.
"Yeah, friendlies are great but they’re not competitive action.
"Within these players they’re looking after themselves, trying to just get through the games, build minutes in the legs.
"And then when they have to go full pedal in competitive games these things can happen.
"I’m sure it will not just be us. I’m sure there will be other teams today that have picked up injuries probably.
"I just think it’s very hard for players to get up to full speed in a short space of time.”