PARS midfielder Aaron Splaine could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg last night.

The 21-year-old, who only joined Dunfermline in the summer, spent the night in Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital after suffering the horror injury in a Fife Cup tie with Burntisland Shipyard.

A mostly young Athletic team were leading 2-0 at Kelty Hearts' New Central Park when the former Kilmarnock man went down five minutes after half-time.

After a lengthy stoppage, the seriousness of Splaine's injury saw the referee abandon the game before he was taken to hospital.

Speaking to Press Sport this morning, club chairman Ross McArthur confirmed that Splaine had broken his leg and was detained at the Victoria overnight.

He added: "Allan (Johnston) was with him until early this morning and we're hoping he'll see a surgeon today and get an operation today.

"We'll know more throughout the course of the day."

Splaine has so far made 12 appearances since joining Dunfermline in the summer, the most recent for the first team coming as a substitute in Saturday's Scottish Cup win at Queen's Park.