FILE THIS ONE under ‘bizarre injuries’. Or maybe ‘foolish training ground antics’.
During St Mirren’s training session last week, club captain Steven Thompson thought it would be a good idea to throw a spiked pole at team-mate John McGinn — stabbing the Scotland U21 midfielder in the thigh.
The pole went one centimetre into his leg during the incident, which happened after Thompson had lost possession to the midfielder during a dribbling routine and he is expected to be out for three weeks.
“I’m mortified by the whole thing,” the BBC report Thompson as saying. “It was a daft prank.”
I threw it for a laugh, stupid me trying to be funny, and unfortunately it’s anything but. It’s a total disaster,” he also told the Scottish Sun.
It comes as little surprise that McGinn wasn’t seeing the funny side of it either.
“I’ve been shocked by it, to be honest, really down about it,” he said. “I like a laugh and a joke in training, but for something like this to happen is just unbelievable.”
Good luck to him and them. Michael Lowry shows lots of heart, Ulster not always. New chance tonight.
Massively unfair judging Lowry at 10 after one game. Doesn’t seem to be any latitude out there for a player stepping into a new position at this level. I’d like him to get a solid run at 10 then judge his ability.
Granted, expecting him to do a better job than he does at full back mightn’t be realistic, especially given that when he’s playing 10 whoever’s playing 15 isn’t Lowry.