Rigters faces race to be fit

David Cuffley

City boss Glenn Roeder was today keeping his fingers crossed that Dutch signing Maceo Rigters will be fit to return to action before the end of the season.

Rigters, on loan from Blackburn, was due to have a scan on the hamstring injury that forced him off in the 2-1 Championship defeat at Bristol City, little more than 15 minutes after he was sent on as a substitute for Dion Dublin.

Roeder's initial reaction was that he would be surprised if the 24-year-old striker played again this season. He certainly will not be fit for Saturday's visit of Burnley - but has not been ruled out beyond that.

“He will be having a scan but he definitely won't be fit for the weekend,” said Roeder. “When we've had him scanned we will know more. At the moment I'm guessing at two to three weeks.”

Even three weeks on the sidelines could still give Rigters the possibility of returning for the final two matches at home to Queen's Park Rangers and away to Sheffield Wednesday.

There was better news of other casualties as the Canaries prepare for the final five matches of the campaign.

Spanish full-back, Juan Velasco, who signed a contract to the end of the season, is on the mend and should resume full training again after the weekend.

“He's back in training with the physio and we should have him again at the beginning of next week,” said Roeder.

Gary Doherty was set to return to training today after missing the game at Ashton Gate with back trouble, while Darel Russell has recovered from the virus that restricted him to 45 minutes on Saturday.

“He was under the weather. He had a virus the previous week when we played against Colchester and was struggling to shake it off. But he trained today and he's OK,” said Roeder after yesterday's session.

“They were excellent again in training today. They didn't deserve what happened to them on Saturday.”

Skipper Mark Fotheringham suffered no ill effects from a second-half knock after leaving the ground clutching an ice pack.