Ross County winger Daniel Armstrong has returned home from the Staggies’ pre-season training camp in Holland after suffering a broken jaw.
Armstrong picked up the injury in a collision during a session at County’s training base in Doorwerth, and has now returned to Inverness to receive treatment.
The injury is a blow for the 21-year-old, who is undertaking his first pre-season with the Staggies following his move from Raith Rovers in January.
County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell fears Armstrong could take at least a month to recover from the freak injury, and he said: “Daniel Armstrong picked up an injury on Tuesday, breaking his jaw in a collision in training.
“Danny is now away back home and heading to see a specialist in Inverness to see if they can tidy that one up.
“I’m obviously disappointed for Danny and it also means we lose a player from the group of 22 we have out here.
“The feedback we got here was that there was nothing dislodged, so it doesn’t look like there is going to have to be an operation.
“It might just be a healing process and, if so, it could be anywhere from four to six weeks.
“It was just a collision – it was just highly unfortunate the way it happened.
“We’re disappointed for Danny, but he just needs to recover and go again.”
County had already been without three sidelined players, with Ross Draper (ankle), Don Cowie (knee) and Kenny van der Weg (hamstring) having remained at home in order to repair injuries suffered towards the tail end of last season.
The Staggies play their first pre-season friendly of the camp when they face Eredivisie side Groningen in Assen tomorrow night, and Kettlewell added: “With the intensity of the games we’re going to play in, we felt we needed 22 players.
“It was made clear to the guys if they weren’t fit to play the plan would be for them to stay back home.
“Ross is away to St George’s Park, being a former member of the PFA down there. We’re hopeful he’ll be ready to hit training when we get back.
“Don has had a procedure over the summer. He played through a bit of a niggle towards the end of last season. He did it manfully – his level of performance was great.
“It was just a tidy up but has cast up another wee niggle in his knee, so that’s just a rehabilitation process.
“Kenny van der Weg was a niggle in his hamstring from last season which flared up again, but I don’t think it is anything major.
“He wouldn’t have been able to take part in the games, hence the decision on that one.”
