St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright won’t be recalling Chris Kane in the wake of the long-term injury to Steven MacLean.
The news that MacLean will be out for at least four months and possibly six after undergoing knee surgery has left the Perth men short of forward players, particularly after losing Stevie May to Sheffield Wednesday last month.
Wright has challenged Adam Morgan to take the opportunity he will now get to start matches, while Dundee United loan man Brian Graham is the only other attacking option available to the McDiarmid manager.
Rising star Kane is currently impressing while on loan to Dumbarton in the Championship on a deal that is scheduled to run until January.
Wright, though, ruled out the possibility of bringing him back to Perth.
“It is not an option,” said the Saints boss. “People have suggested that but it’s just not an option for us.
“People are maybe forgetting we have two good strikers in Brian Graham and Adam Morgan but I was wanting another striker in even before Macca’s injury.
“Brian got off to a good start with his goal at Motherwell and Adam has got good qualities.
“It has taken Adam time to settle in but now he has an opportunity and he has to make sure he steps up to the plate.
“And we also have to get goals from other areas of the pitch to spread the load.
“We have players who know they should be chipping in with goals and they have to take their share of responsibility.
“I have been looking around for a potential emergency signing and will sit down and speak in depth with the chairman (Steve Brown) when he gets back from holiday.
“Ideally we would have someone on board before the Dundee United game a week on Saturday because Brian is unable to play against them due to the terms of his loan agreement.
“There a few potential free agents out there who are available and who would be possible replacements for Macca.”
Wright is backing the rest of the squad to cope with the loss of both MacLean and Tam Scobbie, who is set to be sidelined for three months after he also undergoes knee surgery on Monday.
“We will deal with this,” said Wright. “That is all you can do and these things happen at any football club.
“It’s disappointing for the players first and foremost, particularly when you think that both lads missed huge parts of last season with injuries.
“But they are strong characters and they will recover. The players are all good pals in the dressing room and they feel for their teammates.
“Of course there is sympathy and support for Tam and Macca, particularly because of what they both went through last season.
“Macca has been through a real emotional roller-coaster over the past 12 months.
“Almost a year ago he had to have surgery on his knee but he came back to score our second goal to clinch the Scottish Cup win over United.
“That was an unbelievable high for him and he had started the season on fire, at home and in Europe. Now he is back to square one but he will handle this.
“We had been optimistic that Macca would just need a clean-up on the knee but he has required microfracture surgery which gives him the best opportunity of making a full recovery in four to six months.
“Tam will be out for around three months after he gets the operation on his medial ligament on Monday. However, at least both players will be back later in the season.”
As if all that weren’t enough injury misery for one week, Wright revealed that Scott brown will miss Saturday’s game against Inverness.
The Perth boss added: “Scott has rolled his ankle so will be out this weekend but he has a chance of making the derby with United.”