Falkirk will be without Thomas Scobbie for six weeks after the defender suffered a recurrence of his pelvic problems.

Scobbie pulled out of the Scotland Under-21 squad last week and will miss Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against St Mirren.

The left-back played through the pain barrier for much of last season after undergoing two hernia operations and suffering from tendinitis and osteitis pubis, which causes persistent swelling and pain.

And Falkirk have decided that he needs complete rest until December after the problem flared up again.

"Tam Scobbie won't play for six weeks," manager Eddie May said.

"It's something he has had over the last few years, he can't do anything about it.

"We'll look after Tam's welfare, I think that's important at a football club. Unfortunately for Tam he can't do anything for six weeks."

Chris Mitchell is poised to step in after playing at left-back as Scotland Under-21s beat Belarus on Saturday.

Scott Arfield also missed that game with an ankle problem that he first picked up in last month's goalless draw against Aberdeen, but May hopes to have the midfielder available.

"Scotty unfortunately had to miss the 21s game," May said. "We'll wait and see if he comes through Friday's training if he's available."

News of Scobbie's lay-off was more bad news for a club sitting at the bottom of the SPL without a victory.

But May insists Saturday's visit of St Mirren gives them an opportunity to make their situation look far healthier.

"We're just missing a goal," the Falkirk boss said. "People make a lot of not winning a game.

"But if we win on Saturday, we have only lost one in five, and if we win 1-0 we have only lost one goal in five games. That's a decent record in the Premier League.

"The most important thing is we will set up the team to win the game, rather than trying to nick a point.

"But we're playing against a team which has done very well in the last few years in the Premier League."