Saunders went down under no pressure from anyone, and was immediately writhing in agony on the ground.

He was then taken straight to hospital where the injury was diagnosed as serious enough to require surgery tomorrow morning.

The young defender tweeted tonight, “I'll be fit and available for this seasons scottish cup final ! #thewell”

This is a bit of a tragedy for the youngster who only made his first appearance of the season against Hearts on Sunday.

It also presents Manager Stuart McCall with a headache ahead of Saturday’s trip toPaisley, with Keith Lasley also likely to be missing through suspension.

Will he keep Mark Hateley at right back and bring in either Ross Forbes or Stuart Carswell in midfield. Only four games into the season and our squad is stretched already, it is surely time now we get more bodies in from somewhere.

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