St Johnstone have a potential midfield crisis on their hands as they prepare to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
Chris Millar is at least a week away from a comeback, and Perth boss Derek McInnes has concerns over skipper Jody Morris and Jamie Adams.
He revealed that Morris had a back problem in recent weeks, was sent to a specialist and awaits the prognosis.
Fears that Adams broke his ankle in the midweek clash with Dundee United were unfounded. He was on crutches after the game but McInnes hopes he could be available to face Rangers.
He said, “Jamie gave us a scare but hopefully he’ll be ok. He twisted the ankle and had to come off. He hasn’t had much football recently and I thought he did very well in that crucial midfield area.
“Jody has been struggling with back pain but he is made of the right stuff and is playing through it. We have sent him for a precautionary scan but hopefully there is nothing to worry about.”
On the plus side, midfielder Kevin Moon could feature in his first squad for a year after coming back from cruciate surgery.
McInnes said, “He has had a wee groin problem but if he comes through both training sessions he will be stripped. I see him playing a big part for us between now and the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, the McDiarmid manager has moved quickly to make up for the loss of Sam Parkin for the rest of the season by lining up an un-named free agent as a possible replacement, who could even feature against Rangers.
He said, “I feel so disappointed for Sam. He gave us a real work ethic and had an important part to play for us… On the plus side the surgery was straightforward.”
McInnes was still bristling on Thursday at the post-match criticism of the midweek Tayside derby.
He said, “I am frustrated and disappointed by some of it. I can assure you the players are giving absolutely everything for the club in trying circumstances. The pitch won’t get any better before the end of the season but they are determined to do well. They are giving me everything.
“I don’t want to keep going on about it but it is very easy to sit back and criticise and there has to be a degree of understanding. You have to appreciate what they are dealing with and how difficult it is for players of both sides.
“It’s not great to watch but I feel sorry for the players. Hopefully the fans will be patient when we face Aberdeen at home on Wednesday.”
After his 100th bench appearance for Saints against United, Peter MacDonald is keen to increase his start statistics.
Football can be cruel, but Parkin’s absence could help MacDonald’s personal cause.
He said, “It was really unfortunate for Sam. He fractured the ankle in training. It popped and he went down like a ton of bricks.
“It’s a sad way for him to end his season, and you don’t like relying on injuries to start games. You want to force your way in by performances.
“But it is now up to the other strikers to cement their place in the team.”
Like Andy Jackson, MacDonald has secured a short-term deal through to the end of the season.
But he stressed, “I’m not even thinking about another contract right now; my priority is getting into the team. I don’t know what the gaffer has planned for Sunday’s game against Rangers but obviously I’d love to start. They are my old club, but it wouldn’t matter who we are playing.”
He added, “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Collin Samuel, Stevie May, Andy Jackson or myself we all want to see the strikers getting goals.
“The back four have been superb home and away. They don’t want to lose goals. But everyone is putting in a shift to stop goals at the other end.
“If we can keep defending solidly and start finding the net again the only way is up. But we have to approach each game individually and not start thinking too far ahead.”