Caley Thistle manager John Robertson is concerned the injury sustained by defender Shaun Rooney against Aberdeen is worse than first feared.
The right back suffered an ankle injury five minutes into last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against the Dons at Borough Briggs in Elgin.
Robertson, whose side also drew 1-1 with Hearts in the Angus Beith tribute match at Tynecastle on Monday had initially hoped the complaint would be no more than a twisted ankle.
But the Caley Jags boss fears the 22-year-old could be facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
He said: “He is going to get an X-ray. He has damaged his ankle ligaments which is probably the best we can hope for. That would keep him out for six weeks.
“But we are a bit concerned that he has a small fracture. If it is a fracture, he could be out for two or three months. We are hopeful it will just be six weeks.”
Defender Jamie McCart also limped off during Monday’s friendly at Tynecastle but Robertson said it was only as a precaution.
He said: “Jamie had a tight groin so he came off. He has played a lot of football. That was his fourth game in 10 days.
“If Kevin McHattie had been fit, Jamie wouldn’t have played. That was the same with Coll Donaldson, given Shaun Rooney’s injury, but we have been straddled by the injuries.
“Carl Tremarco, McHattie and Rooney have been injured so we have had to play Coll and Jamie more than we would have liked.
“We can rest them up and look forward to another game against Friday.”
Robertson’s side complete their pre-season preparations with a friendly against St Johnstone at Clachnacuddin’s Grant Street Park on Friday before their Betfred Cup opener against Peterhead at Balmoor on Tuesday.
The Caley Jags manager felt Monday’s friendly against Hearts was another worthwhile exercise for his side ahead of the new campaign.
He was also pleased to help raise funds for former Inverness and Hearts player Beith, who was forced to retire from the game at the age of 23 due to a hip injury. Beith has taken up a youth coaching role at the Hearts academy.
Robertson said: “When we were organising the match, we were suggesting playing the match at somewhere like Linlithgow Rose or Newtongrange Star’s ground but Craig Levein and Ann Budge were adamant they wanted to do it right by playing it at Tynecastle and it was great.
“It is nice to try to help him on to the next part of his career in football.”
