Crock-hit McInnes set to spend

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DEREK McINNES wants to add new faces to his Aberdeen squad next month after Greg Leigh and Craig Bryson were ruled out for at least two months.

The Dons boss is looking to bolster his injury-hit squad with at least two players in the January window.

A midfielder is a priority so he is likely to renew his long-term interest in Sunderland’s Dylan McGeouch.

Defender Leigh will be out for eight weeks with a stress fracture of his shin while midfielder Bryson will go for ankle surgery in the new year and will be ruled out for another eight weeks after that.

McInnes said: “The news with the two boys isn’t great and it puts the squad under a bit of strain.

“We’ve always been looking to try to get a couple of signings in anyway and hopefully we can still do that.

“It’s something I’ve spoken to the chairman about.

“Your numbers are in place at the start of the season and your budget’s there.

“In January you’re normally looking to

BY SCOTT BURNS try to add to your starting XI, to improve that and your squad. Sometimes you have to react to injuries and it’s all about getting the numbers in to reinforce the squad. For me, it’s a bit of both.”

Left-back Leigh, who is on loan from NAC Breda, suffered the injury in the win over St Mirren this month.

McInnes said: “Greg is out for two months with a stress fracture. We’re really disappointed with that. We got that news on Friday and he’s now on crutches for four weeks, maybe even a bit longer. So he’s out for two months.”

Bryson, who arrived in the summer from Derby, was still getting over ankle surgery when he signed but various injuries since have stopped him from hitting top gear.

McInnes said: “The good news is that the surgeon thinks it’s minor surgery. It’s quite a straightforward operation and he should get back.

“But we’re going to be at the end of February by the time he is back.”