Elgin City manager Allan Hale describes defender Connall Ewan as a ‘warrior’ after dislocating his shoulder and playing on, as depleted Borough Briggs side continue good form with cup draw at Peterhead
“He’s a warrior” - the man who dislocated his shoulder and carried on playing.
Elgin City defender Connall Ewan epitomised the spirit of his on-form team by shrugging off a very painful injury.
The former Ross County stopper earned the highest praise from his manager after refusing to go off when his shoulder popped out of joint during Saturday’s 1-1 league draw at Stranraer.
Ewan did miss last night’s creditable 1-1 draw at Peterhead in the KDM Evolution Trophy after enduring a painful few days, but boss Allan Hale said the 20-year-old could be back for Saturday’s League 2 clash at home to Spartans.
“He did it quite early in the game, maybe the first quarter of the game but he managed to pop it back in,” Hale said about Ewan’s shoulder dislocation.
“The fact that he played on for the full 90 minutes, recognising that we didn't have any central defenders on the bench, it just shows that he's a warrior.”
City travelled to Stranraer with a sick bug running through their squad in addition to several injuries to key players, so Ewan’s painful issue was the last thing they needed to happen.
“He's in a bit of pain now, as you would expect, but I think it just speaks volumes for the players as a whole,” Hale added.
“Hopefully Connall will be fine. He's running for an x-ray, and he's hoping to get a scan just to see what damage it’s done to the ligaments around that area, but hopefully it's not too significant.
“There’s the risk that it happens again, so the longer the rest, the higher chance of a full recovery. But he's been playing really well, so he's desperate to keep his place.”
Hale made five changes from his Stranraer starting eleven to the team that kicked off at Balmoor Stadium on Tuesday.
Matthew Cooper and Ross Draper continued their recovery from injury, while winger Abimbola Obasoto made his first start and former Hibs front man celebrated his promotion to the eleven with his first goal for the club.
Key man Russell Dingwall, just back from a long-term injury, missed both matches this week as he and his partner await the birth of their first child.
“We don't have our troubles to seek,” said Hale. “In the circumstances, only having four outfield subs, to put in a performance like that was really pleasing.
“The first half in particular, I thought we were excellent playing on the front foot. We played really good football, created a lot of openings, had a lot of chances, and caused Peterhead problems that they had to try and solve.”
O’Connor’s deflected strike had City deservedly ahead at the break, while Blue Toon came more into it after the break and levelled through Kieran Shanks with 20 minutes to go.
City had already beaten Dundee United B and Cove Rangers in the competition - losing to Caley Thistle - and now have seven points from four fixtures with two to come against Aberdeen and Dundee’s B teams.
It looks likely to take them through to the last 32, as the first 22 teams in the league table go through and join the ten Championship clubs in the next round.
“The boys that came in applied themselves really well,” said Hale. “Cooper's just been really unfortunate that every time he's tried to come back, he's always picked up niggling muscular injuries, that then sets him back another couple of weeks.
“That was a good 65 minutes and he put in a really good performance.
“Draper looked like he'd never been away. He was obviously playing really well before his injury.
“Young Liam MacDonald at 17 years old didn't look out of place at all, really good on the ball, and really disciplined for someone so young out of possession.
“And then ‘Abs’ (Obasoto) and Josh (O’Connor) on the wings, they’vehad to be patient due to the form of Josh (Walker) and Jack (MacIver).
“But they were really positive. It was great to see Josh get a goal, and Abs capped off a really positive performance from him.”
Hale hopes to have Dingwall, Ewan and Aberdeen loan duo Dylan Ross and Noah McDonnell back in his squad to face Spartans this weekend.