FALKIRK may have to set up a dugout exclusion zone around manager Ray McKinnon this weekend as he recovers from a contagious eye infection.

The Bairns boss has been affected by conjunctivitis since the start of the month and has had to take time off from the club as he tries to shake it off.

With McKinnon having been able to attend training earlier this week, assistant Darren Taylor insists the ailment has not hampered preparations for Saturday’s meeting with former club Dundee United.

But the 48-year-old is again expected to have to keep his distance from his squad and backroom staff before, during and after the game.

The condition prevented McKinnon from being in the dressing room and taking the team-talk for the recent 2-1 win over Alloa Athletic, although he did make an appearance on the periphery of the technical area.

And Taylor has revealed it could be a similar set-up for the visit of United.

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He said: “Ray took a couple of days off last week but the fact there wasn't a game at the weekend meant he was able to use that time away to recover a bit.

“He was highly contagious for a while and he is better staying away but the situation has had no impact at all. He was here in spirit and we communicated regularly.

“He is back at the club and was at training on Monday and Tuesday, and everything is planned as normal. He seems to have broken the back of the infection but we want to be safe rather than sorry.

“I'm sure he will be in the dugout on Saturday. There is no reason for him not to be in the dugout and again, like Alloa, it is a fair-sized dugout.

“So he can be there but still keep a distance if need be. Five metres was a [recommended] 'zone’, so we’ve got five metres there.”