RAITH ROVERS have been struck a 'devastating' blow after it was revealed teenage star Lewis Vaughan could be out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.
The 19-year-old, who had to be substituted in the first-half of Saturday's 3-0 League Cup win over Albion Rovers, is to see a specialist after a scan on Monday highlighted the knee injury.
The full extent of the damage was unclear but the attacker, who netted for the second week running before going off at the weekend, could be sidelined for up to nine months if surgery is required.
Vaughan was shaping up to be a key component in the revamped side being pieced together by Ray McKinnon and the new Rovers manager spoke yesterday of his dismay at the news.
McKinnon said: "The scan has shown up cruciate damage, which is absolutely horrific for Lewis because it means he could be out for the season.
"We've looked at the incident back on TV and he's hardly been touched; his knee's just gone and we're devastated for the boy.
"He'll go and see a specialist now because we don't know the extent of the damage yet due to the swelling there is at the moment.
"It's heartbreaking for him. He was flying, he was loving it and scoring goals, and then he gets this. We're absolutely devastated for him.
"But he's a great wee player, with a great future ahead of him, and he'll come back strong from this."
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