Manager John Hughes hopes to have two or three of his injured Caley Thistle players back for tonight’s Scottish Premiership home match against Partick Thistle visit.
Carl Tremarco, Aaron Doran, James Vincent and Josh Meekings are among those who have been carrying less-serious injuries. But Hughes hinted the likes of Liam Polworth and Lewis Horner, able stand-ins amid the absences, could get the nod again.
He said: “I have to be loyal. The players who have come in have waited a long time for a chance and have acquitted themselves well.
“We should have won the game against St Johnstone on Saturday but if we are not ruthless and not taking our chances, football has a habit of biting back. That’s what happened on Saturday.
“We’re not too far away. What I saw on Saturday was us stepping up again and we’ve still got a bit to go. Dani Lopez and Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo need to get fitter and that will come with game time.
“We need to watch we’re not working them too hard because of the injury problems we’ve got.”
Hughes has been impressed by tonight’s opponents, who opened the Premiership season with a goalless draw at Hamilton before Sunday’s defeat.
The manager added: “I was at the game on Sunday and they played against a good Celtic side. For 30 minutes, Celtic were outstanding and controlled the game. But Partick probed and worked very hard.
“We were looking at the programme and Alan has brought several players in. Two of them came off the bench on Saturday – Mathias Pogba and David Amoo – and Partick will always be there or thereabouts.
“Their two young central defenders are very impressive and even looking at the bench, he’s got a few players to come back, such as Dan Seaborne and Kris Doolan.
“Alan has got the number of players we haven’t got and I don’t really know what team he’s going to play. But Partick are a team I enjoy watching and the matches are always competitive.
“We’re going to have to be at our best.”