DUNDEE United boss Csaba Laszlo has urged his side to win promotion for stricken team-mate Fraser Fyvie.
The Tangerines suffered a blow ahead of tonight’s top-of the-table Championship clash with St Mirren after it was confirmed midfielder Fyvie will miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.
Fyvie damaged his cruciate ligament while making a tackle late on during United’s 3-0 win over Livingston on Saturday.
It was originally hoped he would sit out just a month of action but the 24-year-old has now been told he needs surgery and a lengthy spell out.
“Fraser has had an accident and I’m sad about it,” Laszlo told ArabZONE. “He’s a good player in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“He’s grown to be a leader and for that reason I’m really sad.
“We will stay behind him, we will protect him and I wish him power to come through this heavy period.
“I’ve made it clear to the boys now that they have to bring him back to the Premiership.
“He’s had a bad gift from the gods with this stupid injury but they can have a fantastic gift as a team to take him back to the top flight.”
Fyvie took to Twitter to confirm the news, posting: “Appreciate all the messages I’ve been sent over the last few days regarding my injury.
“Scan results showed I have a tear in my medial meniscus and also in my ACL. Gutted that I will miss the rest of the season.
“Looking forward to getting on the road to recovery after my operation.
“I’m sure the team @dundeeunitedfc will kick on now to get promotion at the end of the season into the SPL.”
It is a massive setback for Laszlo, who has made Fyvie a central figure since being appointed at the start of November.
His side head to Paisley hoping to regain top spot from Jack Ross’ St Mirren.
The Buddies currently hold a two-point advantage on their Tayside rivals but have played a game more.
But former Hearts boss Laszlo is placing no greater emphasis on the clash than he would for any other match.
“We’re playing St Mirren who are at the top of the table but this game is of the same importance as when we play Brechin at the bottom,” he said.
“You saw even against Brechin we suffered so for that reason I don’t want to make a big change in the minds of the players by saying, ‘Oh my God we’re going to St Mirren so we must be careful’.
“We have to play our game, we have to be concentrated and have respect. It’s very important that we believe in ourselves.”
Meanwhile, Ross has also lost a member of his squad after it was confirmed Jamie McCart has returned to Celtic following his emergency loan spell.
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