PLAY-OFFS DRAMA: Ross County strike hero White can still make Premiership showdown with Partick Thistle
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Malky Mackay is still holding out hope that striker Jordan White can be fit for tomorrow’s Premiership play-off first leg at Firhill.
The Ross County manager winced at the extent of the head wound suffered by his influential frontman in Sunday’s costly defeat to Kilmarnock, with the depth of the gash not one for the faint-hearted.
With County now facing a 180-minute scrap for top-flight survival, though, Mackay indicated that the 11-goal club top scorer was keen to play and would be given every chance.
The Staggies boss, who had already lost Eamonn Brophy at a crucial time in the season, said: “Jordan has a really dreadful cut in his head.
“It hasn’t been good, but we will see where we are with that.
“Jordan is desperate to play but it is one of the worst cuts I have seen in a long while, in terms of two players clashing heads - in terms of how big the cut is and how long it bled.
“It has been well attended to and we will be dealing with that over the next couple of days because it is not cut and dried.
“He got a lot of stitches.”
White, sometimes criticised from outwith the club for a modest goal return, is viewed by Mackay as integral to his team.
The manager stressed: “He has been someone who has trained every day for me since the day I came here.
“It is quite remarkable.
“I would be very surprised if he has missed a game for us this season.
“He has also been incredibly consistent in terms of being able to put himself out there, despite the physicality of his game and the way people play against him.
“It was unfortunate and maybe rolls on from it, in terms of us losing him early on when we needed our best team on the pitch.”
Despite concerns over White’s involvement in the first leg against Partick, Mackay has confidence in the two men who would remain fit and ready if the worst happens.
Fit-again Alex Samuel has made a big impact in recent matches, while Simon Murray has already preyed on Championship opposition this season with 33 goals for Queen’s Park - including two against Partick - before his January switch to Dingwall.
Mackay said: “Simon is a great kid and so enthusiastic.
“He has slipped into the group here although there are times when he has had to bide his time.
“He is back in the Premiership rather than the Championship and there is that difference and space he gets.
“He showed at St Johnstone when he came on and within five minutes scored a screamer. “He is desperate to be part of it and he knows Partick Thistle well.
“To have Alex, Simon and Jordan would be nice for Thursday and Sunday because we have lost Eamonn Brophy, Dom Samuels and Josh Stones.
“In the forward area, there are quite a lot of players missing from that end of the pitch.”
Mackay will treat the game as a 180-minute affair and added: “We are going down to Firhill and that will be half-time and then we come back here and hopefully we are in a positive position.
“We treat them the exact same way as any of the Premier League teams.
“They are on a really good run and are playing well at the moment. We make sure we look at their strengths and weaknesses.”
Criticism of County’s Sunday display had some pundits suggesting Partick were now favourites to prevail.
Mackay added: “We are not trying to prove anyone wrong. If people are suggesting they are going in as favourites then that is fine.
“I can see why people would say that because they are in a good vein of form and we are second bottom of the Premier League.
“In fairness, Ross County are always seen as underdogs in every game we go into, certainly in my time here and when we have been in the Premier League.
“It doesn’t change anything for us. If there is a perception that Thistle are favourites then that is fine.”
