Ross County’s return to Scottish Premiership action later this month is likely to come too soon for defender Ben Purrington.
Defender Purrington has been sidelined since suffering an ankle fracture in the latter stages of a 1-1 draw with Dundee United on October 15.
Until that point, Purrington had started every game since joining the Staggies on a two-year deal from Charlton Athletic in the summer.
Manager Malky Mackay expects the 26-year-old will still be missing when the Staggies return from the winter break at home to St Johnstone on December 17.
Mackay is hopeful Connor Randall, Ross Callachan, Jack Baldwin and Ben Paton, who were sidelined when County last played away to Celtic on November 12, will be back in contention, however.
Mackay said: “Ben has got the same type of recovery as Connor had. I would imagine he will be a couple of weeks later.
“Ross Callachan is pushing on really well at the moment, and we still have three weeks to go. He will be close.
“Connor Randall and Jack Baldwin are both back training, as well as Ben Paton, which is fantastic news.
“We are nearly there.”
Break has allowed players to work way back to fitness
Injuries took their toll on the County squad in the weeks leading up to the World Cup break, with Mackay regularly needing two goalkeepers to make up their quota of substitutes.
The Staggies boss feels the five-week shutdown has allowed him to nurture his squad back to fitness.
He added: “We got hit with two broken ankles, a torn hamstring and a knee situation all within the space of six weeks. We don’t have a big squad to start with, but we have managed it all the way through to now.
“The upsides of this five-week break are the recovery processes.
“I listened to Ange Postecoglou talking about it, saying this is the time that allows everybody to get back from their bumps, bruises and knocks.
“The longer-term ones can get back training with the team, and we can do a bit of warm weather training.
“Everyone is getting ready to go for the next part of the season, and I can absolutely see that.”
Mackay encouraged by County’s recent showings
County signed off for the winter break with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Celtic.
The Staggies had taken the lead at Parkhead, but a quickfire double by the hosts left the Dingwall outfit empty-handed.
Despite the initial disappointment, Mackay feels his side’s showing against the champions offers them plenty encouragement for their return to action.
Mackay added: “Most of that evening, I was still a little bit upset, having led in the game with not too long to go.
“Like anything, you reflect. In the grand scheme of things, we were playing against an incredibly good team who make it very tough for everyone. They were playing Real Madrid two weeks before it.
“For us to run them so close, and having Parkhead feel so quiet with 20 minutes to go, shows a measure of where we have come in a short space of time.
“It really did keep going the good form of (County’s games against) Kilmarnock, Hearts, St Mirren, Hibs that we had going into the Celtic game.
“Talking to Ange and the Celtic directors, they were saying how difficult we made it for them. It gives me the confidence to say: ‘just keep going’ to my players.”
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