Ross County defender Sean Kelly faces an anxious wait after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury in Saturday’s Championship victory over Alloa Athletic.
Kelly, who made his return from the injury in the previous weekend’s Scottish Cup victory over Motherwell, was forced off at half time against the Wasps after complaining of the injury in the early stages of the match.
Former St Mirren and AFC Wimbledon player Kelly had last week spoken of his contentment after undergoing separate hip and groin operations in the space of 12 months, however Staggies co-manager Steven Ferguson says the 25-year-old must now await news following the setback.
Ferguson said: “I feel for Sean. He’s in a fair bit of discomfort. He went through two operations and last week there was absolutely nothing – he felt absolutely fine again.
“Early on in the game, he felt it come again, but he battled on for us until half-time. It is too early to know what exactly it is, but it’s certainly linked to what he has been struggling with the last wee while.
“We’ve reinforced defensively in January and, thankfully, we had Callum Semple on the bench who was able to come on. We didn’t lose any balance, albeit Kenny van der Weg who had done great at left centre-back went to left-back.
“But Callum coming on as a natural left-footer kept the balance and meant we could use the full width of the pitch.”
Ferguson has hinted the Staggies could make one further signing before Thursday’s transfer deadline, with fellow defenders Callum Morris and Stelios Demetriou also sidelined through injury.
Although County have made four additions so far, Ferguson insists he and fellow co-manager Stuart Kettlewell are keen to ensure opportunities remain for the club’s young prospects.
He added: “It would be easy for us to just go and stockpile players to make sure we’ve got everybody covered.
“We cannot forget we’ve got some good young players at the club as well. We have brought in a couple of lads that strengthened the group, who are probably just a year or two in front of our young ones we have got.
“We’ve brought in a couple of young players that have got league experience and played first team games, where some of our boys are two or three years younger. James Wallace and Tom Kelly have been on the bench for the last five or six weeks.
“They are doing well and progressing really well, but they are a bit shorter of first team football experience.”