Partick Thistle vs Raith Rovers preview - Hutton absent for Thistle

Posted Saturday, December 17, 2011 by PA

Partick have lost midfielder Kyle Hutton from their squad to face Raith after the youngster returned to Rangers at the end of his loan period this week.

Jonathan Lindsay is also unavailable due to a knee injury and he joins Ryan MacBeth and Willie Kinniburgh in missing out with fit-again Iain Flannigan a doubt through illness.

Scott Robertson is included to give manager Jackie McNamara options with the Firhill chief also thinking about giving striker Kris Doolan a starting berth after his match-winning role as a substitute against Morton last weekend.

McNamara said: "I will need to shuffle things around with Kyle leaving and I will decide on my team at Saturday lunchtime. Raith will be well organised and I need a side that can break them down."

Bottom-of-the-table Raith have been dealt a double injury blow with strikers Brian Graham and Dennis Prychynenko ruled out with groin injuries.

Back-up goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw and winger Scott McBride continue to be absent through knocks as Kirkcaldy boss John McGlynn looks for his men to repeat their 2-0 success over the Glasgow side earlier this season.

McGlynn said: "We are not detached by any means and it keeps being said that we are only a couple of wins away from moving to a mid-table position. It would be nice to get one of those wins and start moving up the way.

"Thistle have been good at home all season but this is a game we can win."