JAMES MCPAKE has not yet ruled Chris Hamilton out of next week's Fife derby after revealing he doesn't need surgery on an injury that forced him off at the weekend.

The 22-year-old was substituted during the first half of Saturday's draw at Arbroath, as was forward, Lewis McCann, after sustaining a blow to his cheekbone in a collision with Jay Bird.

Hamilton, Athletic's vice-skipper, who has been leading the team in the absence of captain, Kyle Benedictus, was taken to hospital after the game, where he was assessed.

Although he has suffered a fracture, McPake said an operation is not needed, but the player is set to miss Saturday's trip to Ayr United.

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However, the Pars boss said that being able to see another specialist ahead of Raith Rovers' visit on Tuesday will determine whether he could return for that encounter.

McPake also said that the hamstring injury suffered by McCann was "looking positive" and, providing an update on both players, explained: "We are still waiting on the scan results for Lewis but he is feeling positive and the injury is looking positive.

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"Hammy doesn’t require surgery but we are waiting on a timescale. We are delighted that he doesn’t need surgery on his fractured cheekbone. He has been in running, but we will go by the timescale the specialist says.

"We have had different ones spoken to us, which range from days to weeks, but we do need the specialist’s opinion on that. It’s probably the only downside of this period, that the specialist places are not open as they normally are, so specialist appointments are tougher.

"With where we are at he (Hamilton) will be out this weekend. He has been running but he's not been doing anything contact. Tuesday I’m genuinely not sure. I think it will all come down to if we can get him to see the other specialist. He was away this morning (to Kirkcaldy) and obviously we need a mask fitted to his face.

"I wouldn’t rule Tuesday out if I’m honest. I know Chris is not wanting to rule Saturday out, but the likelihood is that I’ll rule that one out. We would never put him in any danger. He didn’t want to come off last Saturday, it was the doctor’s call when he saw the dent in his cheek. He feels like he could play but we have to look at the bigger picture with it. There is no concussion or anything like that but there is a weakness in that structure so we definitely need the mask fitted."

On McCann, he continued: "I would never say we were over-cautious with that, because I think everybody here saw the way he pulled up. He was stiff after the game. The last couple of days he's been feeling really good, but we are just waiting on this picture coming back, or the report from the scan, so we know exactly what we're dealing with.

"In terms of the strength in it, it's nowhere near what Rhys Breen's was, or what Lewis' was last year when he did it at Clyde (last season). Fingers crossed the report comes back and matches how he's looking clinically."

McCann was able to walk off at Gayfield, and appeared to be moving ok, and McPake noted: "Yes, and I think there was a point where they were going to assess it further, and try and see if he could go back on, but there was no way I could've allowed that when you see him pulling up. I think you're playing with fire if you do that.

"He's that quick as well that he exposes his hamstrings and his thighs to real pressure. I think that would've ended badly if we'd have put him back on.

"We're optimistic, but I hate saying that until this report comes back as well."

With Hamilton set to miss this weekend's trip to Somerset Park, McPake was asked whether Benedictus, who has been missing since late October, would be ready to return, to which he added: "Again, he's working away well. He's got a bit of stiffness in his body, which is expected for the load he's been doing coming from the two serious injuries. We'll wait and see.

"Sam's back training and looking good. He's probably done as much as Bene this week in terms of training but, because of the time Bene's been out, then we need to just be a wee bit careful with that. Sam has only missed the couple of weeks Arbroath here, then came back in, got concussion, and he's been 10 days or whatever it's been since, so Sam's good to go."