The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Gardyne injured
Premiership: Manager McIntyre craving consistency in pursuit of top six reward
Ross County midfielder Michael Gardyne is a doubt for tomorrow’s game against St Johnstone due to a thigh injury.
Ross County midfielder Michael Gardyne is amajor doubt for tomorrow’s game against St Johnstone due to a thigh injury suffered in Saturday’s Scottish Cup loss to Aberdeen.
Gardyne needed four stitches in his thigh after a challenge from Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis towards the end of the first half of the 1-0 defeat.
The 31-year-old could join Christopher Routis on the sidelines for the visit of Saints, with the Frenchman out for the rest of the month with a hamstring injury.
Staggies manager Jim McIntyre will be cautious, having added midfielders Oscar Gobern, Milan Lalkovic and Jim O’Brien in January.
He said: “Michael is a major doubt while Chris has probably got another two or three weeks to go.
“He has a part of his hamstring that he overstretched in training and it is a little bit worse than we first feared.
“That’s exactly why we covered those areas of the team with our signings in January.
“We’ve got Ian McShane whois back in training now as well after his groin injury, which increases numbers.
“Oscar Gobern is still getting up to speed, but he’s certainly getting there.”
County are searching for their first league victory of 2017 when they face Saints, who are 10 points ahead of the Staggies in fifth place.
McIntyre does not believe his side will catch the Perth outfit, but is intent on joining them in the top half of the table, and he added: “They are very dangerous. They’ve shown what a good side they are, but on any given day each team is capable of beating each other.
“It’s about making sure we’re fully focused on trying to get three points. We’re the home side and want to make sure we do that. Games between us are generally tough games.
“The top six is there for every team. It will be the team that shows the consistency, which none of us have done this season.
“We’re all competing for the one spot as I don’t think anybody is going to manage to catch St Johnstone.
“It’s about who shows the most consistency and puts that run of results together.”
“It will be the team that shows the consistency, which none of us have done this season