| While his team-mates were failing in their bid to close in on a new clean sheet record on Saturday, Soutar was having the cartilage he tore in the middle of November trimmed again.
The surgery went well and boss Alan Kernaghan has been told the goalie’s absence can now be measured in weeks rather than months.
“It was nothing too major and, because Soapy was well down the road with his rehab following the first operation, I think we should be talking only a couple of weeks before he is training again,” commented Kernaghan.
Stand-in goalie Scott Murray was also hurting today after seeing his bid to make it six shut-outs in a row, just one off the club record, ended by ex-Dundee United man Paul Walker’s 27th-minute effort for Stranraer.
“The whole defence, not just Scott, were disappointed about the goal and what made it worse was that it was pretty much self-inflicted rather than being down to something special from the opposition,” added Alan.
“Like I said on Friday, though, I am far happier talking about another win, even if we did lose a goal, than I would have been if had finished goalless.”
Attention now at Dens is focused on the Scottish Cup and Saturday’s trip to bogy team Airdrie United.
Three times this term, the Diamonds have triumphed when the two have met in the league, with the Dark Blues’ only success being a penalty shoot-out win in the Bell’s Cup.
Bobby Mann is an early injury doubt for the New Broomfield visit after he hurt is neck on Saturday.
Meanwhile, it looks unlikely there will be any more transfer movement at Dens before the window closes at midnight tomorrow — in either direction.
“There is always a chance something will happen, but there is nothing in the pipeline with players coming or going so I don’t think anything will,” said Alan. |
