Nesbitt injury clouds early cup campaign
Falkirk’s preparations for the opening phase of the Premier Sports Cup have been hit by concern over Aidan Nesbitt, with manager John McGlynn indicating the midfielder could face as long as 12 weeks on the sidelines. The 29-year-old was withdrawn after just 12 minutes of the opening group match away to Edinburgh City. The Bairns went on to open with that win before suffering defeat to Ayr United, and still have group fixtures to come against Alloa Athletic and Stranraer.
Speaking after a confidence-boosting 1-0 friendly victory over Genk on Saturday, the Falkirk manager confirmed the issue is a recurrence of a previous ankle problem and that further assessment is imminent.
“He’s done the same ankle as he had done towards the end of last season,” McGlynn said, adding, “He’s going for a scan on Tuesday.”
McGlynn outlined a cautious outlook, noting that the most pessimistic scenario would mirror another current long‑term case in the squad.
“If you’re looking at worst case scenario, you’re looking at an operation and you’re looking at the same kind of timescale as we’re talking about Keelan Adams, the general 12 weeks post‑op. It’s a huge blow for Aidan.”
Right‑back cover added amid injury run
With Adams already unavailable and summer signing Jack McMillan yet to feature after picking up an issue during the club’s pre‑season camp in Portugal, Falkirk have moved to deepen their defensive options. McGlynn confirmed the arrival of Ryan Strain to provide another right‑back choice, a move prompted by the combined setbacks to Adams and McMillan.
The head coach offered a more upbeat assessment on McMillan, praising his versatility and indicating his return to team training is close.
“Jack McMillan’s not far away now. He’s going to go back into training on Monday, which would be really, really good to get him back. He did so well in Portugal… He’s a player that can play a number of positions.”
Goalkeeper update and short‑term implications
There was also positive movement for goalkeeper Scott Bain, who is expected to shed his protective boot in the coming days. McGlynn stressed the next steps will be guided by how the ankle responds.
“By the end of the week, Scott Bain should be able to come out of his moon boot. We’ll just need to see how that goes.”
While the clean sheet in the Genk friendly underlined squad resilience, the potential absence of Nesbitt for an extended period would be significant as Falkirk balance the remainder of their Premier Sports Cup schedule. With Alloa Athletic and Stranraer still to come, Falkirk will likely look to internal solutions to maintain creativity and balance in midfield if the scan confirms a lengthy lay‑off.
Squad picture at a glance
The following reflects the current status as outlined by the manager following the Genk friendly:
| Player | Issue/Status | Timeline (as stated) |
|---|---|---|
| Aidan Nesbitt | Repeat ankle problem; scan due | Worst case: operation and ~12 weeks post‑op |
| Keelan Adams | Unavailable for the foreseeable | No return date indicated |
| Jack McMillan | Injured in Portugal; versatile option | Expected back in training Monday |
| Scott Bain | Ankle in protective boot | Out of boot by end of the week if progress holds |
| Ryan Strain | Signed as extra right‑back cover | Recruited due to injuries at right‑back |
What it means for Falkirk’s next steps
- Midfield reshuffle: If Nesbitt is sidelined, others will need to assume additional creative and linking duties in the centre of the park.
- Defensive depth: The addition of Ryan Strain provides short‑term security on the right side while McMillan returns.
- Fitness management: With Bain nearing a transition out of his boot, Falkirk will monitor workload across positions as competitive fixtures continue.
McGlynn’s update underscored a mixed picture: concern for the influential Nesbitt and the longer‑term absence of Adams, offset by signs of progress for McMillan and Bain. As the Bairns navigate the remaining group matches against Alloa and Stranraer, maintaining momentum from the Genk win while juggling availability will be central to their early‑season aims.
