Aberdeen completed the signing of Hamilton Accies captain Michael Devlin yesterday but Dons manager Derek McInnes now faces a race against time to sign a new goalkeeper before the transfer window closes next week.
Defender Devlin, who has joined on a three-and-a-half year deal, will continue his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury at Pittodrie with a view to returning to action in March.
He will be joined in the treatment room by goalkeeper Joe Lewis, who was stretchered off during Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat against Rangers. The 30-year-old, an ever-present since his move from Cardiff in 2016, will undergo knee surgery next week and is likely to be sidelined for at least two months.
Danny Rogers will make his first start for the Dons in today’s meeting against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie with either 19-year-old David Craddock or Archie Mair, 16, on the bench.
The Aberdeen manager says his priority will be adding a more experienced stopper to his squad before Wednesday’s deadline.
He said: “The biggest concern when Joe left Ibrox the other night was whether he had broken his leg or not.
“Thankfully that was ruled out at the hospital but after the MRI scan on Thursday it has been revealed he needs an operation on his knee.
“The impact has caused a significant tear in his cartilage and we will get the surgery done at the start of next week.
“He will be out for a significant period of time although it’s too early to say just how long before the surgeon has done his work.
“It’s a major blow and we can’t pretend otherwise as Joe has been fantastic for us right from the start and you don’t want to lose key players.
“Danny has obviously picked up a lot of experience at Championship level with Falkirk in the last two years and has had the benefit of working with Joe and Gordon Marshall.
“He will be ready and eager to show his capabilities and that’s the way it is for goalies when you are competing against someone of Joe’s level.
“That’s why way kept him with us this season as we know his chances would be limited and we have every confidence he will do well.
“We will look at all our options but we will be looking at bringing in cover for Joe.”
McInnes added that the Dons have rejected a third bid from Hull City for defender Scott McKenna and reiterated his stance that the Scotland under-21 captain will not be sold this month.
However Hull manager Nigel Adkins has not ruled out a fourth bid for the Dons player.
He said: “McKenna is on-going and I went to watch him the other night (against Rangers).
“We think he’s talented with a big potential.
“He’s Aberdeen’s player and you have to respect that, we’ve done as much as we can so far. We’re doing what we can to give ourselves an opportunity in this window.
“There’s normally a domino effect as most deals are done in the last few days and from our point of view we have targets that we’ve looked at. I’d like to think we’re looking in the right areas.”