The forward returned to the Jambos last week due to a season-ending hamstring injury.

Barry Robson has backed Finlay Pollock to bounce back stronger from injury after claiming Raith Rovers turned the Hearts boy into a man.

The 20-year-old suffered a hamstring problem in the 1-0 win over Ayr United 11 days ago.

The pacy forward was carried off on a stretcher and sent for scans amidst fears over the severity of the injury.

However, Robson is convinced the youngster, who suffered two injury-afflicted campaigns before moving to Raith at the start of the season, has proven he is made of stern stuff.

“Of course we’re disappointed about Finlay,” said Robson, who has backed Lewis Vaughan to step into the breach. “But, listen, the one thing I know is he is a young, fit, hungry kid and this will not deter him.

“It’s an injury that he’ll come back from perfectly fine.

“What he needs to look at or think about is, right, how do I come back stronger?’ How do I use this time to bulk up other parts of my body and improve myself?

“And he’ll do that because he’s a really willing kid.

“I don’t want to be too doom and gloom for Finlay because this is part and parcel of football.

“And this will make him stronger and, never to worry, this is not going to hinder him for the rest of his career. He’s going to go on and have a great career.”