McIntyre not derailed by injuries

Jim McIntyre is convinved Dunfermline have enough quality to avoid relegation from the SPL, despite the strugglers enduring an injury crisis.

Last Updated: 21/02/12 at 15:22 Post Comment   

McIntyre: Pars upbeat

McIntyre: Pars upbeat

The East End Park outfit are currently languishing bottom of the SPL and face a daunting trip to face league leaders Celtic on Wednesday evening without a host of first-choice players.

Nicky Phinn's nightmare season continued after the midfielder tore his hamstring in training and Jordan McMillan is a major doubt after sustaining an ankle injury in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Inverness.

In addition to that Mark Kerr (ankle), Iain Turner (back), Steven Bell (knee) and Andrew Barrowman (calf) all remain sidelined in the Pars' treatment room.

But McIntyre attempted to focus on those who were available to take on the Hoops.

"I don't want to be sitting talking about injuries as I still think we have enough good players here to continue to produce football results," said McIntyre.

"Obviously when you lose key players at key times it isn't ideal and it can effect things, but there is still enough quality here to get results. We have to believe we can keep narrowing the gap, we have got back on level terms albeit on goal difference.

"Nicky's injury came as a hammer blow. He has injured his hamstring again and it's a bad tear. He's having a difficult time just now but as always we will nurse him back and hopefully he will get a break come the end of the season." Celtic's 5-0 away success at Hibernian last weekend stretched their impressive unbeaten run to 18 matches and, having been impressed with Neil Lennon's side throughout this season, McIntyre is anticipating a tough night in Glasgow.

"Celtic are on a fabulous run and they are playing a lot of free-flowing attacking football," he said.

"As well as that they also work very hard off the ball, that's something that all good teams do.

"I think we can be encouraged by our last visit to Celtic Park, when we lost the game 2-1. Celtic were a different side back then though and weren't playing with the confidence they are now, but I was proud of my players for battling to the very end.

"It's crucial that we don't give anything away and that if Celtic are going to get a goal then they'll have to earn it."

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