Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Keatings out for several weeks after training clash
INVERNESS Caley Thistle will be without striker James Keatings for several weeks after he tore ankle ligaments in training.
Former Dundee United man Keatings sustained the injury in training on Friday and missed the game with Dunfermline on Saturday, with Caley Thistle winning 1-0.
The injury came in an accidental collision with team-mate Charlie Trafford prior to the weekend’s game, which saw Miles Storey keep his place up front to partner Jordan White.
Manager John Robertson believes it is a massive blow but has challenged the remainder of his forward line to step up.
Robertson said: “It was accidental – he turned and Charlie Trafford just caught him.
“They both went the same way, James flicked the ball up and they both went for it.
“He stood on his ankle and it twisted underneath him. It is a massive blow because he’s been a big player for us this season.
“But we can replace him. You’re replacing him with a guy like Miles Storey, who has serious pace which helps in this league.
“We can mix up our front four like we did on Saturday.
“We’ve lost Sean Welsh (in the past), James Vincent and David Carson have stepped up. We’ve lost Brad McKay, Coll Donaldson and Shaun Rooney have stepped up.
“We’ve now lost James, so it’s up to Jordan (White), Nikolay (Todorov), Roddy (MacGregor), Aaron (Doran), (Tom) Walsh and Miles to do the business for us there.”
Robertson’s options will be boosted further this week by the return of on-loan Middlesbrough man Mitch Curry from injury.