Raith Rovers' Dougie Imrie on potential goalkeeper headache after Cardiff City star's Wales under-21 call-up
With Raith Rovers back-up goalkeeper Luke Armstrong receiving a Wales under-21 international call-up this week, it’s a potential headache for Stark’s Park gaffer Dougie Imrie as he faces the prospect of having no keeper on the bench for one or two fixtures as cover for regular number one Josh Rae.
Armstrong, 20, on loan at Raith for the season from Cardiff City, is in the Welsh squad for the UEFA Euro Under-21 qualifiers in Belgium on Tuesday, September 29 and at home to Austria on Tuesday, October 6. Raith’s next two fixtures are at home to Livingston on Friday and at Greenock Morton on Saturday, October 3.
And Imrie told the Fife Free Press: "I'm not sure if he (Armstrong) is away on Friday, but he'll certainly be away for the following game. But we've got Josh, it's okay.”
When asked if he had any concerns about not having a back-up goalkeeper on the bench if Rae got injured, the 43-year-old ex-Greenock Morton boss added: “I’ve done it many times as a manager. It's okay, Josh is doing well.
"I don't know, I've been here eight months, nine months, and I've had no issue.
"It's one of those ones, the keeper very rarely gets injured.
"If it happens, then we'll just need to deal with it.
"But at this present moment in time, I won't be bringing anyone in.
“It's something I've never thought about, but it's certainly not something I'm worried about.
"Josh has been excellent.
"I can see why you're asking the question, but I've had it many a times as a manager through a season, having to go with one goalkeeper."