Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is confident attacker Simon Church to step up to the role as the Dons’ leading man.
Leading-scorer Adam Rooney will miss the next six weeks due to a torn thigh muscle and on-loan MK Dons attacker Church will have to take on the role.
The Wales international scored for the Dons in the 1-1 Premiership draw against St Johnstone on Saturday.
McInnes has called on the rest of the players to shoulder the responsibility while Rooney is out, but believes Church can fill the void.
He said: “We’ve dealt with being without important players in the past and there is responsibility on everyone else to chip in with goals now rather than depend on Adam.
“It is up to others to contribute more, although Simon Church was excellent for us on Saturday and his performance gives us every encouragement for the upcoming matches.
“The two goals Simon has scored for us have come in the six-yard box in the four games he has played for us. It puts him on a par with Adam’s scoring rate and I know if we give him good service he will score goals.”
Despite Church’s goal the Dons were frustrated to concede a late penalty as they let victory slip from their grasp against the Perth Saints.
With Celtic also drawing 1-1 at Hamilton on Friday night the frustration was obvious at the final whistle and McInnes believes his players have only themselves to blame.
He said: “We are angry and disappointed at ourselves and we feel the same as the supporters, it was an opportunity to win a game.
“We haven’t gained anything on Celtic while Hearts have gained a couple of points on us and we have to try to redress that.
“We stifled St Johnstone and managed the game well for 87 minutes, and I felt if anyone was going to score a second goal in the game it was us which makes it all the more disappointing to not win the game.
“We didn’t play anywhere near like ourselves in the first half, but we got on top of the game in the second half and 1-0 should have been enough.
“But we missed an opportunity and the way the game played out left us with little time to come back and try to take all three points.
“The fact the goal we lost came out of nowhere is what makes it hurt all the more. We’ve been punished and cost ourselves two points and it is important we bounce back when we go to Dundee United on Wednesday.”