Raith Rovers boss Dougie Imrie assesses Scott Brown injury blow
Raith Rovers’ midfield dynamo Scott Brown faces a spell on the sidelines after leaving the field injured just 22 minutes into Tuesday night’s 4-0 home friendly victory over Edinburgh City at Stark’s Park.
Stalwart Brown, 31, who has been at Raith since 2022, was playing an unfamiliar centre-back role against the Citizens when he pulled up in the first half as the visitors broke clean through on goal – Rovers survived thanks to a fine block by keeper Josh Rae – but he left the field soon afterwards.
“Scott has done his calf again,” Rovers manager Dougie Imrie told Raith TV post match. “I’m saying he’s done his calf, hopefully he’s not, but certainly he felt it.
"So we’ll need to get him a scan. Hopefully it’s not too severe.
"He’s come back in great nick. I thought on Saturday (in the 2-2 Stark’s Park friendly draw versus Hamilton Accies) his energy in the second half was great to drive us forward.
"We had to stick him in at centre-back tonight because Paul (Hanlon) has got a slight issue as well that we’ll need to check out.
"We didn’t want to risk Paul either so he’s got a scan and hopefully it’s not too serious either or hopefully nothing. Again the scan will tell us that and we’ll need to take it from there.
"But I thought Zak Delaney (newly signed after leaving Greenock Morton) who came on was excellent. I see a lot of people wondering why I brought Zak to the club, but that’s exactly why I brought Zak to the club because I know he can play both positions really, really well.
"I thought he had a great game when he went on there. His biggest strength in his whole game is his pace, there won’t be anybody quicker than him in the league.
"And it allows at times for us to go two for two. Or even two on one.
"Dycey (Callum Fordyce) can go all the way in because I know Zak’s got the pace to cover anything down the sides.
"When you’re looking at players you’re always trying to see if they can play one or two positions and Zak certainly comes into that bracket.”
At least Brown and Hanlon now have a recovery period away from playing matches, with Raith not in action again until hosting Elgin City in the sides’ Premier Sports Cup Group H opener on Saturday, July 11.