Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McInnes won’t dip into transfer market despite Dons’ injury dilemma
ABERDEEN’S injury crisis deepened yesterday but manager Derek McInnes will not be delving into the transfer market to bolster his squad.
Funso Ojo is unlikely to play again this year after scans showed he suffered a severe hamstring tear against St Johnstone last weekend, while Craig Bryson will not feature until after the October international break after suffering an ankle injury.
The loss of the two experienced midfielders leaves Lewis Ferguson, 20, and 18-year-old Dean Campbell as the two fit f i r st - t e a m c e n t r a l midfielders but McInnes will not be looking to strengthen his squad.
The Aberdeen manager said: “There’s no scope to bring anyone in. If Bryson had been out for longer, if both had been out for three months, it’s something we would have looked at.
“We have looked at a few of the out-of-contract players. We always try to keep abreast of who is still available to us. We have decided to go as we are.”
Aberdeen face three away games in the next seven days with a Betfred Cup quarter-final tie at Hearts sandwiched between Premiership matches at Livingston tomorrow and Rangers next weekend.
McInnes said: “Ojo being out for three months is a real blow. He’s had a significant tear on his hamstring. He actually damaged his other hamstring in the incident, but that’s nothing in comparison.
“The scan on that was quite favourable. It’s the other one which is as bad a hamstring injury as you can get in terms of a tear.
“We’ll probably be without Ojo until January.
“Bryson will be out for a month with his ankle. Again there was nothing sinister.
“We have to deal with it. Clearly it’s disappointing news this week.”