Andrews gives in to surgery over knee injury

Published on Thursday 20 March 2008 21:55

RAITH Rovers defender Marvin Andrews is set to miss the rest of the season after being told he needs to have an operation to the same knee he damaged while at Rangers.

Scans have confirmed the former Trinidad and Tobago internationalist has damaged cartilage in the joint and will have to go under the surgeon's knife.

Religious Andrews, during his career at Ibrox, famously defied doctors in 2005 by refusing to have an operation to mend cruciate ligaments in his knee – claiming his faith in God helped the injury heal.

However, the 32-year-old, who has not played since Rovers were defeated by Brechin on 9 February, looks certain to miss the remainder of the campaign.

Raith manager John McGlynn said: "It's a blow to the team and a blow to Marv as well that he is having to have this operation.

"He was having a decent season up until the knee started troubling him in mid-December and through Christmas and New Year.

"He tried to come back and give it a go and he has played in some games but it has got to the stage now where he can't continue.

"He will have the operation and take it from there, we don't want to speculate on when he might be back."

Meanwhile, Dundee manager Alex Rae admits he feels his side have been cursed following news that midfielder Paul McHale is the latest Dens Park player crocked.

The midfielder is likely to miss the remainder of the season after pulling a hamstring in training and a scan over the next few days should confirm a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

McHale's injury is the latest in a long list of problems Rae has to contend with, after influential Scott Robertson was also ruled out with a torn hamstring and Milan Palenik will have a knee operation today.

With striker Mickael Antoine-Curier banned for two games, starting with tomorrow's match against Dunfermline, and strike partner Colin McMenamin also facing a two-week suspension the Dundee boss finds his options sorely limited.

Winger Gavin Swankie is also injured with a thigh problem.

"It looks like Paul has pulled his hamstring and it does look as though it's curtains for him this season," said Rae.

"We've brought Patrick Noubissie in from Hibs recently and still have Kevin McDonald fit but we'll need to re-jig things a bit for Saturday's game at Dunfermline."