Cadger and Kev Injury Woe

26-year-old Anderson has had a recurrence of the serious knee ligament damage that has plagued him throughout his career, and was thought could be helped by rest earlier in the season. Cadger has already had two operations on the same knee in the last five years, but it is not yet known if he will need surgery. However, if he is to face his third operation, it could have grave consequences for his career. The jinxed Scotland international was out of football for 18 months when he suffered a similar injury in May 2000.

Kevin McNaughton also sustained ligament damage although it is not understood to be as bad as that of his demoralised team-mate.

Calderwood said: "It looks as if it's a bad one and his medial ligament. I don't know how much damage he has done yet. We will just have to wait and see but he has has been magnificent for us the whole season and he is very important for us. I will just have to see on Monday how serious he is. Kevin looks as if he's hurt his ligament as well but it's not as bad as Russell's. It might be six to eight weeks but we will have to wait and see. The only good things is that it has come at the end of the season."

The influential pair will now certainly miss the crucial last two matches of the Bank of Scotland Premier League season.