LEWIS MARTIN has been to see a specialist as part of the process to clear up his latest injury setback.

The versatile 24-year-old defender, who featured in 33 games during Dunfermline's curtailed campaign last season, is yet to feature this term due to a problem that Stevie Crawford said was stemming from his calf.

After recovering from an injury-ravaged 2018-19 season, during which his only appearances came in the final two games, Martin penned a year's contract extension, which was extended further in January until the end of this season.

Crawford explained: "Lewis Martin is going to be out for a lengthy spell so he's going to have to do a bit of rehab, which is disappointing but at least we know where we're at with Lewis now.

"It's a problem that is coming from the calf. It had worked its way round and down to the ball of his foot. It's one of these things; I think there's other clubs where boys have suffered from the lockdown period. There's a few that have picked up longer, lengthy injuries, and unfortunately Lewis seems to be that one that has picked up something while he's been out running during the lockdown period.

"We've got Jamie (Sutton, physio) working on a daily basis with him. Lewis is a great boy – I thought he was terrific for us and we've just got to make sure we're man-managing him because he will have a big part to play in this club moving forward."

While he'll be without Martin, Crawford has welcomed back full back Aaron Comrie to his squad ahead of the clash with Hearts tomorrow (Friday) night, which he believes will "be a great advert for the Championship".

The Pars go into the match with seven wins from eight competitive games in all competitions, and with 10 points from their first four league encounters, boasting a perfect record at East End into the bargain.

Robbie Neilson's title favourites have won all three of their Championship matches and sit one point and one place behind.

Victory for either side will – until Saturday at least – take them top of the pile but Crawford has urged his men to keep their feet on the ground.

"I think what we've got to be careful of is that we don't get ahead of ourselves," he continued.

"We've had a really good, positive start to the season but Hearts will be the favourites to win the title, rightly so. They've come down from the top league and they've got a very strong squad with a lot of good players in it but it doesn't mean that they're going to come here and get it easy on Friday night.

"It will be a competitive fixture, two in-form sides in the Championship at the moment, but it's one game at a time. It's that old cliche that we make sure we apply ourselves properly on Friday and then we'll be able to gauge where we're at.

"I know Robbie will have watched us more than once. That's the way he is and, likewise, we try and get as much homework done on the opposition as possible. Robbie will have picked up things that he'll see where he can possibly try and hurt us but, equally, we've got to do our homework and exploit areas we think Hearts are weak in."

Asked how vital Saturday's turnaround against Clyde, which saw the Pars roar back from two goals down to win 3-2, was in the context of the Jambos clash, Crawford added: "I think what was important was that you keep the momentum going.

"The pleasing thing is I'm sitting here at the moment talking in a positive manner that we came back from two goals down to have won the game 3-2. Let's not underestimate that because Clyde caused us problems and their shape was good at the weekend. We've managed to progress in the tournament, which is a good sign.

"The Hearts players will look forward to coming here, and that's something we're going to have to deal with because it's a great environment out there. It's a great stadium and it's going to be a great advert for the Championship as well. We're looking forward to it."