Falkirk striker Nathan Austin is crocked again

Nathan Austin has had a difficult time of injuries. Pic by Michael Gillen.

The ex-East Fife frontman has barely been seen by Bairns fans since signing due to a first a loan back at East Fife, then a recurring hamstring problem.

Houston has ordered physio Ross Grady to send the striker for a scan to establish why the frontman has managed just one appearance since August.

The Bairns boss said: “We had him scanned and he had a 18cm strain. He’s trained two days but then he feels like his hamstring is going to go again. We’re desparate to get him a chance because he’s been totally stop start since he’s been with us.

Austinchallenges Matt Crooks in one of his rare outings earlier this season.

“We need to get him rescanned and seeing a specialist because a lot of people will be asking ‘Where is Nathan Austin?’.

“That’s what I’ve instructed from the physio. It’s a cost, but that doesn’t matter. We have to get to the bottom of the situation with a guy we’re paying wages to. We’ve bought a player who could do well in this division, and it’s frustarting the life out of me.”

Houston wishes he could pitch Austin in to challenge his strikers who have struggled to find a regular scoring pattern this season.

“He is a player we could do with,” the Bairns boss admitted. “Good in the air and with pace. He could be pushing Baird, McHugh, Miller, O’Hara, Shepherd.

Nathan Austin played in the Betfred Cup. Pic by Michael Gillen.

“At the under-20s games he comes off after 25 minutes. He starts, on fire, maybe scores a goal then it goes and the hand goes up and he has to come off because it feels like he’s ready to tear his hamstring again.

“It’s very frustrating but we can’t do anything. You can’t force people if they’re not fit to play but we need to get tothe bottom of it.”

Houston does at least have an addition attacking option already in his squad – Kevin O’Hara.

He returned from his loan at East Fife having scored three goals in the first half of the season at Methil.

Austin has got off the mark for the Bairns, scoring against Brechin.

“O’Hara is not far away,” Houston added. “He played a bounce game on Monday [against Queen of the South] and he did well.

“Kevin’s got a long future here. I really think he could be a good player. Whether he plays Saturday [against Morton] or not is another story.

“He’s maybe a doubt because we have the SFA Youth Cup on the Sunday at Ibrox and Alan Maybury probably won’t give me him! He could feature on the bench.”