Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell confirmed leading scorer Ross Stewart will be assessed after suffering a hamstring injury in yesterday’s 1-1 Premiership draw against St Johnstone.
Stewart was withdrawn after 28 minutes of the McDiarmid Park encounter after pulling up with the strain, in County’s final match before their three-week winter shutdown.
Kettlewell admits the break could come at a good time for the Staggies who will look to recharge ahead of their next outing in the Scottish Cup away to Ayr United on January 18.
Kettlewell said: “Ross has a tweak in his hamstring, so we will probably need to get that scanned and see how he is after that. We all know he’s a massive player for us so it was a big blow for us to lose him in that period of the game.
“We just need to take stock over the next few days. The players will get a few days to themselves, and we have to make sure everybody comes back as fresh as can be. We looked as if we had a squad of players that were tired and carrying a few injuries, and a couple who came off the pitch injured.
“It might take a few days to restock and make sure we get guys coming back for the second part of the season, which is going to be a real challenge.”
Kettlewell was thrilled with the goalscoring impact of Iain Vigurs, who was making his first outing since suffering a relapse of a foot injury in a 2-1 win over St Mirren in September, which required the 31-year-old to undergo surgery.
Kettlewell added: “Iain probably played longer in the game than we maybe imagined. Initially we thought we would maybe get an hour out of him, playing in that role.
“As a result of the events of the game and the injuries, we felt as if we had to keep him going.
“He’s obviously a top pro and a guy that knows how to play in the Premiership, with his experience. I think that’s what got him through in the end.”
Although County conceded just six minutes from time though Callum Hendry’s goal for Saints, Kettlewell accepts the point was a good outcome from a below-par display from his side.
He added: “In general terms we never felt as if we got started in the game.
“Sometimes we would look to go and get that second goal once we have got the first, but the fact nothing looked connected or joined up at that point meant we were almost looking to try and consolidate what we have got.”
