Connor Goldson challenge leaves Ryan McGowan with HOLE in his boot despite free kick going to Rangers

Connor Goldson won the free-kick - but it's St Johnstone star Ryan McGowan who's still feeling the effects of that McDiarmid Park challenge today.

Defender McGowan swung at the ball in the late stages of Saints' defeat to Rangers a week past on Sunday and went down with a cry as he missed the ball and connected with Goldson instead. The impact saw his opponent step through and leave McGowan with a nasty gash on top of his foot that ruled him out of last weekend's game with St Mirren.

The foul went against McGowan but he was left needing stitches after Goldson's stud came right through his boot and inflicted some lasting damage. But while former Hearts star McGowan is all patched up and ready to go, his boot still carries the scars going into tonight's clash with Aberdeen.

He won't be throwing a good pair out as he said: “I got the stitches out today. There might be a few winces of pain but I’m sure I’ll get through (the Aberdeen game) fine.

“We’re not in a position to be worried about things like that. I got a hole in my boot from the incident – that will help relieve the pressure on it. I like those boots so I don’t want to throw them out, anyway!”