Caley Thistle manager John Hughes claims he has never before known injury misfortune of the sort that has hit his squad this season.
Inverness have been badly hampered throughout the campaign, with several players having suffered lengthy spells on the sidelines. Dean Brill, Aaron Doran, Jordan Roberts, Gary Warren and Richie Foran are long-term absentees who remain out of contention.
Hughes’ selection options have also been hampered by an ankle injury to midfielder Ross Draper in last week’s 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock, while wide player Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo is back in Belgium to receive treatment for an Achilles injury, with the pair ruled out of today’s Premiership meeting with St Johnstone.
Midfielder James Vincent and defender David Raven could both feature after picking up knocks last week, but Hughes has bemoaned the lack of continuity in team selections.
Hughes, who is in discussions about a new contract at Caledonian Stadium, said: “I’ve never had a season like this where we are always waiting for Friday to pick the team.
“Usually we are doing all our game-related training and preparing them for the Saturday.
“Just when we think we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel, boom, another one goes.”
Hughes has challenged some of his fringe players to take advantage of any openings they may get in the side due to injuries, and added: “There are opportunities for others and one or two of them have taken it.
“Liam Polworth has grabbed it, although, along with most of them, he was a little bit disappointing last week.
“I’ve said to Liam it can’t be two good games, then two bad games when he is trying to establish himself as a starter in the first team. He needs to be man of the match every week.
“I can sit here and talk about it but we have to go and do it. Actions speak louder than words – and we’re looking for a good response. It’s a big week for us.”