ALLOA’S opening game in the League Cup was marred by more injuries to their squad, adding to a couple of players already ruled out.

The Wasps went into their game against East Fife without Luke Rankin and Miko Virtanen to call upon.

Rankin was recovering from a slight knock sustained against Falkirk in a pre-season friendly, while Virtanen has been ruled out of the cup campaign due to a broken toe.

Adding to Alloa’s injury woes, last night’s game saw both Shay Nevans and David Devine forced off with injuries.

David Devine was forced off after feeling his hamstring flare up.David Devine was forced off after feeling his hamstring flare up. (Image: Scott Barron Photography)

Nevans endured a debut to forget, coming on as a sub on the hour mark but had to withdraw after going down less than 10 minutes later.

He was joined on the sidelines by Devine, who went down twice at the 90-minute mark and hobbled off, leaving Alloa with just 10 men.

Due to making all their substitutions earlier, the Wasps could not bring on Morgyn Neill to replace Devine, seeing out the remainder of the game a man down.

Andy Graham was devastated for the defender, who had been marred with injuries the season before.

“As frustrated with the performance as I am,” he said. “I’m more frustrated with the injuries.

“I’m devastated for David Devine, I thought he was outstanding in the game and defensively did really well.

READ MORE: Alloa's season opens with East Fife visit

“His hamstring went there at the end, devastated for him – he’s worked so hard throughout pre-season and he’s got through the full pre-season looking great and that goes and happens to him.

“My thoughts go out to him as well because it’s a real shame for him but he’s got a strong mentality.

“He’s done it before and he’ll bounce back again.

“It was disappointing to bring Shay on and bring him off not even 10 minutes later and that then meant we couldn’t put on a sub for David Devine.”

Shay Nevans in action against Falkirk.Shay Nevans in action against Falkirk. (Image: Scott Barron Photography)

Graham’s transfer business has seen the likes of Nevans, Calum Waters and Kane Thomson sign on, while also promoting Reece Mullen from the academy.

The manager will now be turning his attention to the loan market, aiming to plug the last remaining gaps in the squad.

Graham said he needed patience to find the right moves for Alloa.

He added: “We’re always working hard to get players in to help the group. You look around and we are one or two short just now and we know that.

“It’s not as easy as that to get them in the door at the moment, we need to be a bit patient and work with the quality we’ve got in the group.”