Dons without injured duo but hopeful on Cosgrove

ABERDEEN hope to have Sam Cosgrove available for their next two games after submitting a red card appeal but they will be without Craig Bryson and Greg Leigh for two months.

The Dons are looking to overturn Cosgrove’s Celtic Park sending-off and avoid a two-match ban which would see him miss Ladbrokes Premiership games against Livingston and Hearts.

Manager Derek McInnes, meanwhile, will look to fill the void left by the two injuries in January.

Bryson and Leigh missed the defeat at Celtic Park and the former has been struggling for much of the season.

McInnes said: “Greg Leigh is out for two months. He has a stress fracture on his shin. We got him scanned and had a second opinion and unfortunately he is going to be on crutches for a month.

“On top of that, Craig Bryson saw a specialist on Friday and he is requiring surgery on his ankle.

“It’s a real blow. Craig will probably be out, we think, about eight weeks.

“It was an ankle i njury he originally got at home to St Johnstone a few months ago. He tweaked it again against Hamilton away and got a tackle against St Johnstone again.

“We have been trying to manage it but after seeing the specialist, we feel we have no option but to have some minor surgery.

On Cosgrove’s appeal McInnes said: “I’m hopeful. We have appealed is because we believe we have a chance to right a wrong.

“I don’t think it’s a red card but it isn’t my decision. I can only look at it and nothing changes my mind on it.

“Football people see that as a good challenge and for me, it should be overturned.”