Billy Dodds will give striker Billy Mckay every chance of beating a calf strain in order the lead Caley Thistle’s attack against Dundee in the Championship on Saturday.
The Inverness head coach admits his main forward, with six goals to his name this season, is a doubt for the visit of the in-form Dark Blues.
However, with nine players out overall, a decision won’t be made on the experienced goal-grabber until just before the game to give him every possible chance.
With ICT winless in six league matches, they are six points away from leaders Ayr United and five points behind Morton and Dundee, with Queen’s Park and Partick Thistle also in front of them.
Caley Thistle at least returned to winning ways last week by beating League Two Stirling Albion 3-2 in the Scottish Cup to set up a January 21 showdown with Queen’s Park.
It wasn’t a performance which pleased Dodds and he knows the heat is on his men to deliver a big result against a Dundee side unbeaten in their last seven Championship fixtures.
Mckay will be given ‘to last minute’
Mckay came off late with a calf issue and Dodds explained his chances of facing Gary Bowyer’s team are in the balance.
He said: “Billy will be touch and go for Saturday. We will give him until the very last minute.
“He came off with a very slight calf strain against Stirling, so he is another one we’re monitoring. He’s been doing a bit, so we will see how he is.
“The situation with injuries this week is very similar, but we just have to get on with it.
“We need the players to be better than they were last week. They didn’t do the basics right, which made the game tough, but we’re through and that’s the main thing.
“To beat Dundee, we need to be a whole lot better.”
Fresh league run can begin here
While Dodds doesn’t think their title hopes will vanish with a defeat against Dundee, he accepts they must start chipping into the advantages rivals hold over them.
He said: “This game is not the be-all-and-end-all, but it is probably one of our most crucial games so far this season.
“We have to make sure we’re at it and we do the basics better than we did against Stirling Albion.
“By that I mean move the ball quicker, give the boys on the ball options with better movement.
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“The players know, for the first time, I felt that wasn’t us and I haven’t said that even after games we’ve been defeated in. If we are a whole lot better, I’ll be happy.
“There are a few teams with a few points of a gap on us, but a few weeks ago these teams were behind us.
“You just need a good run of results. It’s good if you have a full squad to pick from, but that’s not the case.
“However, we’re still capable of going on a run. At times like this, in a game against Dundee, there would be no better time to start a new run by winning the game.”
Dodds on hunt for January signings
Dodds, who brought in ex-Newcastle United academy right-back Ryan Barrett last week just ahead of the Stirling tie, explained he’s on the hunt for more new faces in the winter window.
The 21-year-old made his debut in the latter stages of the match and has a chance to make the short-term deal more permanent.
Dodds said the number of injuries is reason enough for the club to keep looking for suitable additions.
He added: “You’re always keeping your eyes open and your finger on the pulse.
“We’ll look and see if there are any players that suit us and enhance the squad. We have, of course, got long-term injuries, so we are looking.
“We won’t bring someone in just for the sake of it. They must be beneficial to the club. It won’t be a quick fix.
“I know we’ve only signed Ryan Barrett until January, but he has a chance to win a deal until the end of the season.
“He’s done well and is catching up fitness-wise. He’s been excellent and a real addition, even although he’s just short term at this moment in time.”
Boss targets Scottish Cup progress
Dodds, meanwhile, accepts neither Inverness or Queen’s Park will be jumping with joy at drawing one another at the Caledonian Stadium in the fourth-round of the Scottish Cup.
However, he reckons there’s a real chance for the Highlanders to get one over Owen Coyle’s side, who recently beat them 2-1 at Ochilview.
He said: “Queen’s Park were the better team last time out and deservedly beat us down there.
“But they are a team we can beat, there’s no doubt. It’s a home draw and I don’t think they’ll be particularly happy about coming away from home.
“I don’t think they will be particularly happy about drawing Inverness.
“I’d have liked an easier tie, but we could have got a whole lot harder as well.
“It is a brilliant opportunity to get into the next round, isn’t it? A home tie against a fellow Championship team.”
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