LIVINGSTON boss Roberto Landi tried to forget about the controversy surrounding Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Clyde by looking forward to having striker Raffaele da Vita back in contention for a first-team place.
The Italian signed from Blackburn Rovers shortly after the arrival of Landi in the summer. The Rome-born teenager scored regularly for Rovers' reserves but he suffered a serious knee injury before Livingston's league campaign began. However, Landi t
oday revealed he is making good progress in his rehabilitation and has targeted a first-team return in January.
"He has a lot of potential and losing him affected us. But his rehabilitation is going well. He is fit enough to do all the running and swimming and fitness and I am confident he will be ready in January. It will be like signing a new player."
Landi, meanwhile, was amazed when referee Craig Charleston allowed Saturday's First Division fixture to go ahead in the teeth of a howling gale. Clyde boss John Brown had the same opinion after three of his players needed hospital treatment following the rain-soaked clash at Broadwood.
Landi said: "I asked the referee why the game was going ahead when a match was postponed at Airdrie. I couldn't believe it when he told me conditions were perfect for football. You can't play football in wind like that."
Calum Elliot put Livingston ahead in the first half, but Alan Trouten equalised in the 63rd minute and veteran Gary McSwegan scored the winner in injury time. It was Clyde's first home victory of the campaign.
The full article contains 270 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
