McInnes must be wondering what he’s done to deserve this

HE’S not one to start moaning about all the rotten breaks that have suddenly come barrelling down the road like some unstoppable bundle of misadventure.

Certainly not in the current circumstances, when so many have so much reason to complain about real-world problems.

But, if we can stick to the strict confines of sporting misfortune, Derek McInnes must be wondering what he’s done to deserve this particular run of luck.

Talismanic goal machine Sam Cosgrove is out for the medium term with a knee injury.

Curtis Main, who deputised so impressively at centre forward towards the end of last term, is also missing with a strain. Young prospect Bruce Anderson failed to impress against Rangers, then got involved in that other thing everyone would rather forget.

And then Ryan Edmondson, the teenage Leeds United player signed on loan specifically to fill that yawning chasm at the business end of this Aberdeen team, picks up a training-ground ankle injury that puts him out for up to four months.

Straight back down the road he goes, then, having made just one cameo appearance off the bench against Rangers.

If some of the adversity has been brought upon themselves, there’s no denying that the Gods are hardly smiling on McInnes and his men. Scottish Cup-winning Aberdeen defender Brian Irvine certainly feels sympathy for the current head coach.

The only upside he can see is that, with his old club not back in action until August 20, things might not be quite so desperate by the time that postponed clash with St Johnstone comes around.

‘It’s difficult for everyone at the moment,’ Irvine told Sportsmail. ‘And everything that has happened to Aberdeen, the lockdown and then that terrible train crash, puts it in perspective.

‘But, purely from a football point of view, it’s obviously not a great run of luck Aberdeen are having at the moment.

‘They’re not even playing games and the boy Edmondson gets an injury. Most injuries are picked up in training, of course. It can just happen.

‘The good thing is their next game isn’t until the 20th, I think. I’m not sure if young Anderson would then be clear to play that game. Or if he’ll be ready.

‘He’s obviously got to selfisolate and, before he’s cleared to come back, he’ll probably have to train on his own. But that’s maybe an option.

‘But, yes, Curtis Main being injured as well as Sam Cosgrove being out is a real blow. They’re undoubtedly the main strikers Derek would rely on.’

Main’s thigh strain may not keep him out much longer. The prospect of having the former Motherwell man available again would be a rare bright spot on the horizon for McInnes.

Main stepped in to relieve Cosgrove of duties during a rare barren spell last season and more than justified his place. If he is back to anything like full fitness, you’d expect the 28-yearold to get the nod for that rearranged Premiership clash.

The fixtures come thick and fast once the Dons do get back into action, with Livingston at home in the league on Sunday, August 23, followed by a first taste of European action — with either NSI Runavik or Barry Town at Pittodrie on the 27th.

In those circumstances, with pressure building as they play catch-up in the league and seek to avoid an early Europa League slip-up, McInnes wouldn’t want to gamble on a relatively raw youngster leading the line.

Irvine said: ‘It wouldn’t be an ideal situation, not having a recognised, experienced striker at the moment.

‘Cosgrove has been the first name on the team sheet for so long. And then, when he wasn’t there, Curtis came in and looked really strong. And we all have high hopes for Bruce.

‘This would have been a great opportunity for him to make the breakthrough. Derek is an experienced manager but it’s not as if he’s got a lot of older heads, guys who normally play other positions, you would maybe look to fill in at centre-forward. If Main is fit, that would be good news.’

Given everything that has happened of late, McInnes will take any positives that come his way.