Dundee United frontman Milos Lacny is unlikely to play for the Tangerines again.
The Slovakian, signed on a year-long loan from Sparta Prague, suffered cruciate ligament damage during training last week.
Now his agent has revealed that, after visiting a specialist in Glasgow, the 24-year-old was told he will be out of action until Christmas just days before his loan deal is due to expire.
Agent Paul Atkins said: ”Milos is gutted because he had been enjoying his time at Tannadice and was looking forward to making an impact. The surgeon explained to him that he wouldn’t be able to play at the highest level again unless he has an operation this weekend.
”Milos has been told that it will take him until Christmas before he is ready to become involved again and his loan deal runs out at the start of January.”
Meanwhile, United manager Peter Houston has praised midfielder Richie Ryan for being so patient.
The 27-year-old Irishman, signed from Sligo Rovers in January, has had to make do with nine substitute appearances up to now because of the form of central pairing Scott Robertson and John Rankin.
But Ryan is knocking on the door after impressing after coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the game against Hibs on Saturday.
United boss Houston is certainly happy with the way the former Sunderland and Royal Antwerp player has been progressing and knows he has someone waiting in the wings if needed in the run-in.
”Richie did excellently at Hibs and the reason he has not been in the team is quite simply down to the form of Scott Robertson and John Rankin,” Houston said. ”Those two have been terrific for us in midfield so you obviously have to take that into consideration.
”But Richie showed what he is capable of when he came on at Easter Road, which augurs well. He has had to be patient but is working ever so hard in training so that when he gets his chance he will be ready to take it.”
United’s second-half showing against the Hibees, when they grabbed their two goals, was accomplished but they took a while to get going. Houston says he would love his players to start showing more self-belief, considering they have gone unbeaten in the league since the January 14 trip to Celtic Park.
He said: ”I’m not saying we should be cocky or arrogant but, going by the run we are on, the players should show more belief in their ability. I did mention recently how they came in shaking their heads after they had just beaten Rangers. They felt they didn’t play particularly well but we still won, which is the bottom line in football.
”Winning becomes a good habit so they should be more confident rather than knocking themselves for bad passes and things like that. They certainly don’t get knocked from the backroom staff, although I do try and remind them of certain things now and again.”