Goodwin confident of fitness but heartbreak for Mullen

Graeme Macpherson

Football Writer

Wednesday 13 March 2013

JIM GOODWIN, the St Mirren captain, has declared himself fit for Sunday's final.

Jim Goodwin has been nursing a torn calf muscle

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Graeme Macpherson

Goodwin has not played since tearing a calf against St Johnstone more than two weeks ago but, despite only resuming training yesterday, expects to lead the team out at Hampden, even if he needs to take a painkilling injection to make it.

"I've had a lot of treatment on it, plus I've been resting a lot to let the tear knit back together," he said, speaking at a St Mirren signing event at JD Sports. "It happened in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the game and at the time I was thinking it was just tight. "At half-time I got a little rub and played the rest of the game. I then got a scan on the Monday that confirmed it was a tear. I had been there before last year and was out for seven weeks with it. But I think I'll be okay for Sunday. I expect to be fine. It's normally a 10 day to two weeks thing. Saturday's game was probably just too soon to risk it."It was a nervous few weeks. I haven't had a chance to really test it out yet but the physio I've been getting on it has been top notch. It feels like it's right again and I'm sure adrenaline will carry me through. If I need to get an injection or chop it off or whatever I'll be there."One player who will not make Sunday's showpiece, though, is Fraser Mullen. Hearts were prepared to give the 19-year-old right-back every chance to recover from an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's Edinburgh derby, but a scan yesterday identified a fracture in the joint. Mullen, therefore, is likely to miss not just the final but the rest of the campaign. "Gutted is an understatement and injury couldn't have come at a worse time," the player tweeted. "Op this week hopefully then all about getting back fitter and stronger for next season."The injury gives interim manager Gary Locke further defensive selection problems, with Danny Grainger and Jamie Hamill both absent with long term knee injuries and captain Marius Zaliukas missing with ankle trouble. Darren Barr is available after suspension, so could slot in, or the role might be entrusted to Brad McKay, who made his debut at Easter Road.Meanwhile, the Scottish Football League have given St Mirren 600 of the extra 3500 West Stand tickets they had initially issued to Hearts late last week. St Mirren had been critical of the decision.

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Goodwin confident of fitness but heartbreak for Mullen

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