Fracture has injured Johnny Russell's hopes of shooting down Celtic

Graeme Macpherson

Football Writer

Tuesday 5 March 2013

THE William Scottish Cup semi-final draw made for uncomfortable viewing for Johnny Russell.

Johnny Russell is expected to be out for between six and eight weeks

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Graeme Macpherson

The pithy introductions given to those entrusted with the onerous task of plucking the balls out of the bowl are enough to make anyone squirm but the Dundee United striker will also have been grimly aware of the discomfort in his left leg. It has now grown to become a right pain in his backside.

Russell learned yesterday that he has suffered a fracture to his fibula; the damage first sustained in a challenge from Josh Meekings, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle defender, last midweek and the injury having now extended to his hopes of featuring in the semi-finals for United. His club have been drawn to face Celtic in a tie to be played on the weekend of April 13 and 14 – with Falkirk drawn against Hibernian in the other tie – but they may be forced to leave the forward behind, with Russell expected to be sidelined for between six to eight weeks with his injury.He had sat out Sunday's 2-1 quarter-final win over city rivals Dundee and could now be left to shift uncomfortably in the stand at Hampden. It will be a frustrating sight for United, too, and not least because the 22-year-old has scored 20 goals already this season, including two in the Scottish Cup fifth-round win over Rangers last month. The club will have hoped that Russell would prove to be just as conspicuous against Celtic next month since the Glasgow side have seemed out of sorts at Hampden of late.That was acknowledged by Mikael Lustig yesterday, the Celtic full-back recounting that his side have lost on each of their last three visits to the national stadium, most recently in the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final to St Mirren in January. With the retention of their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title now only a matter of weeks away, success in the Scottish Cup would clinch a first domestic double for the club since 2007."We're really looking forward to going back to Hampden for another semi-final," said the Swede. "The last time we were here we weren't very happy at the end. We want to do well in this competition as we are still dreaming of winning the double."Lustig admitted the 3-2 loss to St Mirren had been a sore one to take. "The dressing room was very low after that defeat. We had some chances and didn't take them, we hit the crossbar and things like that. If we want to win this trophy we'll need to play better in the semi-final than we did that day."Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, and Stephen Thompson, the Dundee United chairman, watched the draw together at Hampden yesterday, the pair shaking hands warmly when their teams came out one after the other. "Peter and I were at a meeting and we came downstairs to watch the draw," said Thompson. "He actually predicted that draw. It's a one-off game so you never know."You can imagine such words were also muttered by the Falkirk officials, although James McPake, the Hibernian captain, still felt relieved that his side have avoided top-flight opposition in the draw. "Before it we'd have wanted Falkirk," he said. 'But it'll be a tough tie. They're going to be up for it as it's a massive tie for them. If you think it's going to be easy, it comes back to bite you so we'll be focused on the tie."Hibs, famously, have not won this competition for 111 years. Lifting the trophy would not only end that drought but also help erase the memories of last season's 5-1 defeat by Hearts in the final. "People keep ramming the record down our throats but it's up to us to turn it around," said McPake. "We're down to four teams so it's another great chance for us."Given their top-flight status, Hibs could perhaps be forgiven for peering beyond the semi-final but Steven Pressley will not be quite as accommodating with his Falkirk players ahead of a match with Raith Rovers tonight. His young team have won six out of their last seven matches in all competitions and Pressley does not want them to lose focus following the cup draw."In football, nothing stands still. With the Raith game we have no time to enjoy the [quarter-final win over Hamilton Academical]," said the Falkirk manager, who could be without top scorer Lyle Taylor tonight. "We have to focus again and continue our good run of form. I've told the guys that's what separates the top players and the mediocre ones, they don't just do it every so often."

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Fracture has injured Johnny Russell's hopes of shooting down Celtic

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