Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin has revealed goalkeeper Ryan Fulton is out for the rest of the season with a troublesome thigh injury.
The New Douglas Park number one did not feature in last night's Championship play-off semi-final first leg defeat away to Alloa, where the Wasps ran out 1-0 winners, and he will play no further part in their campaign even if they managed to turnaround the 1-0 deficit to reach the final.
Before kick-off last night, Accies announced the emergency loan signing of Hearts youngster Liam McFarlane on a seven-day deal. The 18-year-old took his place on the bench as Jamie Smith played between the sticks for Accies.
The club received special permission from the SPFL for the signing and would need to renew or find another back-up shotstopper should they reach next week's final.
On Fulton's injury, Rankin told Lanarkshire Live Sport : "It looks like Ryan will be out for the rest of the season. It is one of those that his thigh is not in a good way,
"He has done his quad. He's felt it for the best part of the season.
"On Friday night [in a 0-0 draw with Arbroath in which he played], Ryan was a doubt as well but he was too big a risk for this game.
"It was verging on him needing surgery if it snapped so we need to be cautious and take care of his future, making sure he doesn't rupture or tear it.
"It's a big loss for us."
The game was halted for five minutes midway through the first half after Alloa midfielder collapse off the ball and required urgent assistance.
Alloa boss and ex-Accies gaffer Brian Rice was pleased to report his player was conscious post-match and talking, but would be making a hospital trip to investigate the cause.
“He is away to hospital to get checked out,” said Rice. “It looked very serious at the time. When I got in at the break he was sitting up but it needs to get checked and investigated so we know exactly what has happened.”
On the match, he added: "“There is still a big 90 minutes to go but I am so proud of the players and pleased to have a clean sheet and a lead to take into Saturday
“I asked them to give me everything and they did. I can’t ask any more of them.
"We are down to the bare bones with injuries.
"That is a monumental effort for us as a part-time team when boys are working, and I'm proud of them.
"I thought we were just worthy winners on the night."
Accies, who finished ninth in the Championship, must lick their wounds and prepare for Saturday's second leg against the part-timers.
Anything less than a victory will see them playing League One football next season, which would mean a second relegation in three seasons for the South Lanarkshire side.
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