(Picture Courtesy of Livingston Football Club)
Alan Lithgow is set to make his return for the Scottish Premiership club this weekend as he returns from injury after 15 months out.
Speaking to the West Lothian Courier, boss David Martindale said the former captain has coped well with a return to training and said having the defender available again is a ‘huge positive’ for both the club and the player.
Martindale also said: “Alan was back in training properly with the first team on Monday and he’s done really well.
“For someone that has been out for so long, he’s been impressive. He played 11-a-side on Tuesday and that was a huge bonus.
“If I’m honest I thought he’d struggle a wee bit after being out for so long, but Andy (Mackenzie, club physio) has obviously rehabbed him really well and he looked good.
“It’s a huge positive to see him back in training, both for the club but obviously for Alan as well.
“Ideally, we’d probably be looking at him being available for selection after the international break but Jack McMillan hasn’t trained all week with an ankle injury so you might see Alan making his way into the squad for Saturday.
“It gives us options if he’s there. He is big, he is a leader and with Ciaran Brown having gone back to Cardiff we’re obviously a man light in defensive options.
“Honestly, I never thought I’d see him back. I thought once he had rehabbed and got back that other parts of his body might struggle, like his hamstring or groin, and he’d pick up injuries, but he seems to have done really well working with Andy.
“It’s a huge positive and nice to see him back.
“Its well over a year since he last trained, and it was a good four weeks even before then that he was struggling and trying to work through the injury.
Everyone at Superior Sports sends their best wishes to Alan on his return from injury and a special thanks to Livingston Football club for their support.
