Ayr United defender Chris Smith shakes off horror injury

Oct 21 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

HEROIC Chris Smith will face a Saturday fitness test only seven days after being stretchered off with a horror injury.

The former Rangers youngster has made a miracle recovery after being knocked unconscious during the goalless draw against Livingston.

However, boss Brian Reid fears it may be a game too soon for a quickfire return but hopes he’ll be fit for Tuesday’s League Cup trip to St Mirren.

Reid is this week running the rule over a Latvian defender who has joined Ayr for training.

And he has approached two SPL clubs with a view to grabbing cover on a loan deal.

Ayr fans feared the worst when Smith swallowed his tongue after taking a knee in the mouth following a sickening clash with keeper Kevin Cuthbert.

Smith was rushed to hospital but astounded his gaffer with a phone call only two hours after the final whistle to say he was OK.

Reid said: “I could hardly believe it but Chris is a big, strong fellow and amazingly he got only four stitches in his mouth.

“However, the normal procedure after a head knock is to wait a week and then assess further in terms of nausea and sickness.

“I think Saturday will be borderline but I am hoping he will be OK for Tuesday.

“I have watched the incident again on DVD and it was worse because Chris got a nudge into Kevin.

“He took a knee flush in the mouth at full speed.”

As worried players gathered around, Livi striker Kenny Deuchar, who is a doctor, was among the first on the scene.

With Martyn Campbell out until the end of the year after a knee operation, Reid is worried at lack of defensive cover.

He revealed: “I have had a Latvian centre-half, who is a free agent, in for training. He in his mid 20s and has been playing in Slovakia but to play him we would need international clearance.

“I’ll have another look at him and might arrange a bounce game before I make my mind up.

“However, I doubt he would be available for Saturday.”

Cuthbert, who has stitches in a deep gash on his knee, is also a concern.

With on loan Jamie McKernon ruled out for Tuesday – he won’t play against his parent club – Ayr will be another body down.

Reid admitted: “Lady Luck is not shining on us. We are light on numbers so ideally I would like to add a defender, midfielder and a striker.

“We’ve a small budget but we’ll keep fighting and if we can stay up in this league it will be a great achievement, even better than cup runs.

“We are up against it but we have a great bunch of players who are very determined.”

On Saturday, Ayr can pull themselves four points clear of the foot if they beat bottom dogs Dundee at Somerset.

Reid said: “Goals are crucial in this league. We have scored eight to Dundee’s seven and that has put us a point ahead.

“In the Second Division, you might get 12 chances per game whereas in this league, you might only get four or five. Taking chances is crucial. Dundee is a big, important game for us.”

lMcBookie.com make Ayr 13/8 with Dundee 6/5 favs while the draw is 5/2.

First scorers include Alan Trouten at 12/1, Mark Roberts at 9/2 and John Robertson at 14/1. A 1-0 United win is 13/2 while 2-0 is a 10/1 chance.

A repeat of the 1-1 draw on Tayside is 6/1 while another 0-0 draw is 17/2. The last three meetings between the teams at Somerset have all been draws.