No pitch concerns for Lee Clark
Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark has said that no one from the Rangers management team mentioned the artificial Rugby Park pitch following Martyn Waghorn's knee injury on Tuesday night.
The Gers striker went off immediately after winning and scoring a fourth-minute penalty before Mark Warburton's side went on to win 2-1 in their William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.
Waghorn faces two months out and a Rangers statement said: "The initial impact on an unforgiving Rugby Park surface resulted in bruising and lacerations which were immediately visible."
Killie hit back at the Ibrox club, describing criticism of their surface as "ill-informed".
Clark, who confirmed captain Mark Connelly is out for the rest of the season following a hip operation while Steven Smith will miss the visit of Dundee on Saturday as he awaits a scan next week on a hip problem which is affecting his groin, said: "The comments are a general comment, they are not from any one individual connected to Rangers.
"When I had a good conversation with Mark after the game - we get on really well, we have come up against each other many times in the English Championship and have a good relationship, myself, him and Davie Weir (Gers assistant) - the pitch was never mentioned.
"The standard of it, the injury to Martyn Waghorn was never linked at all.
"We know that we have the highest standard of synthetic surface required and we find injuries are picked up on grass pitches also."
Clark will have to do without Darryl Westlake against Dundee as he remains out with an ankle problem but Kallum Higginbotham returns from suspension.
Dundee's Greg Stewart reckons strike partner Kane Hemmings is good enough to continue his sharp shooting with England's big guns.
The former Rangers youngster notched up his 18th goal of the season after netting a double against St Johnstone.
It is the latest highlight on a hot streak for the Englishman which has produced 12 goals in just nine games.
And Stewart believes if he continues to improve like he has this season then the 23-year-old frontman could make a return to his homeland to perform at the highest level.
Stewart, who had previously also linked up with Hemmings during their time at Cowdenbeath, said: "I'm delighted for Kano. Everything he hits right now seems to be flying in. It's great for us as team as we're reaping the benefits of it.
"You saw from the way he took his second goal against St Johnstone how easy it is for him now. He does the same in training every day. He is scoring all sorts of goals
"Kano could one day go back down south and easily play in the Championship or for a top team up here."
Dundee travel to Kilmarnock on Saturday hoping to maintain their current impressive form.
Paul Hartley's side have lost just once in their last seven games and sit joint-fourth in the Ladbrokes Premiership standings alongside Ross County.
However, with a mere six-point drop to 11th place and the relegation play-off slot Stewart knows his side cannot afford to take their foot off the gas.
"It's really tight and one loss could send you back into the dogfight," said the striker.
"But that keeps you focused. We don't really want to look down, though. We want to keep our recent form going and try to sneak past County."
Ankle trouble will keep Nicky Low out of the trip to Kilmarnock.
The former Aberdeen midfielder has been forced to have an injection into the problem joint in recent days in order to quell an ongoing complaint.
Daryll Meggatt is working his way back towards fitness after a hernia operation but is still not ready for action, while James McPake is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Source: PAR
