Mackay hopes wounded White makes the cut

MALKY MACKAY is holding out hope that striker Jordan White can make tomorrow’s Premiership play-off first leg at Firhill. The Ross County manager winced at the extent of the head wound suffered by his influential frontman in Sunday’s costly defeat to Kilmarnock, with the depth of the gash not one for the faint-hearted. With County now facing a 180-minute scrap for top-flight survival, though, Mackay indicated that the 11-goal club top-scorer (pictured) was keen to play and would be given every chance. The Staggies boss, who had already lost Eamonn Brophy at a crucial time in the season, said: ‘Jordan has a dreadful cut in his head. He is desperate to play but it is one of the worst cuts I have seen in a long while — in terms of how big the cut is and how long it bled. It has been well attended to and we will be dealing with that over the next couple of days. He got a lot of stitches.’ White, sometimes subject to criticism from outwith the club for a modest goal return, is viewed by Mackay as integral to his team. The manager added: ‘He has been someone who has trained every day for me since the day I came here. ‘I would be very surprised if he has missed a game for us this season. He has been incredibly consistent in terms of being able to put himself out there, despite the physicality of his game and the way people play against him.’ Should White fail to make the first leg against Thistle, Mackay will choose between Alex Samuel and Simon Murray to lead the line, with the latter having already preyed on Championship opposition this season with 18 goals for Queen’s Park — including two against Partick — before his

January switch to Dingwall. Mackay said: ‘Simon is a great kid and so enthusiastic. He has slipped into the group here although there are times when he has had to bide his time. ‘He is back in the Premiership rather than the Championship and there is that difference and space he gets. ‘At St Johnstone, he came on and within five minutes scored a screamer. He is desperate to be part of it and he knows Partick Thistle well. ‘To have Alex, Simon and Jordan would be nice for Thursday and Sunday because we have lost Eamonn Brophy, Dom Samuels and Josh Stones. ‘In the forward area, there are quite a lot of players missing from that end of the pitch.’