MATT Barrass must have done something naughty to upset football's injury Gods.

How else can you explain the influx of big injuries that have kept the City treatment room at maximum capacity.

From the moment that first-year pro Joe Brennan was carried off at the athletics ground in Grangemouth in July, the club's head physio has had his days filled dealing with a seemingly constant stream of casualties.

"I've never seen anything like this season," admitted Barrass. "There were times at Preston, where I worked before, when I was busy but not with so many contact injuries.

"The number of injuries we've had is probably slightly less than last year or similar but it's the extent of them.

"We're not talking little hamstring pulls or groin strains, they are all significant injuries.

"We've had disastrous luck with knee injuries. You can't legislate for that.

"It's a good challenge as a physio but I'd rather be a bit less busy."

Brennan's misfortune against Motherwell was immediately followed by the key loss of Filipe Morais to the same injury on City's return from their Scotland tour.

Then youth-team player Jack Waters suffered in identical fashion – three players effectively written out of the season a month before it began.

Paul Anderson faces the same fate after breaking his leg in September and even Billy Clarke's recent return from ten weeks on the sidelines was balanced out by losing Steven Davies for a similar length of time.

"It's the same part of the knee as Billy," said Barrass ruefully. "At least we've got a good idea what to do with it now."

Keeping spirits high mentally for the long-term absentees is an equally crucial side to his role. There is nothing harder for any footballer than knowing they will not be able to kick a ball any time soon.

For Morais, at least, the constant presence of two other younger lads in exactly the same boat has softened the blow. They can all appreciate what each other is going through.

Barrass said: "When you're not playing for so long it can feel a bit like out of sight, out of mind but Fil's doing okay.

"He has got a little rehab group with the same injuries. They were all operated on in the same week so they are all at the same point.

"It's not so good for us but it helps them.

"It's hard enough being sat in the gym when your mates are out training. But when you are stuck in there on your own in the depths of winter would make it seem a lot worse.

"It's like some kind of weird married situation with the three of them. They are always bickering and arguing but they get each other through it.

"Being able to start jogging again is the big step for them. Going on to the training pitch will almost feel like the end of the tunnel.

"It's a long slog for everyone. We have our moments when they think I'm brilliant but then at other times they just want to strangle me.

"All they want to do is train and play so it's understandable when frustrations levels are up."

Anderson is still in his cast for at least another three weeks as City let nature take its course. In the same way as fellow winger Morais, he is not likely to return before the end of the season.

"Ando is a long way off," said Barrass. "But he is fairly level-headed and a very sensible lad.

"With the long-term injuries, we do try to give them a week off if they want to go on holiday just to get their heads round it. We know how tough it is.

"With Ando, we didn't have to do anything with it like putting in a screw. It was just a case of putting his leg in a pot and treating it gradually.

"The timescale for him might mean there is a chance around April but you have that decision to make about whether you really want to be pushing it at that stage.

"Obviously if we are in the mix, and let's hope we are, that decision is going to be harder.

"It's the same scenario with Fil. You'd have to think long and hard about whether we'd really, really need him or would it be better to get them a good summer under the belt so they come back even stronger."