Ross County's Ross Callachan out until after World Cup with hamstring injury
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Ross Callachan is not expected to return for Ross County until after the winter break, according to manager Malky Mackay.
The midfielder went off injured just minutes into the Staggies’ defeat away at Kilmarnock last weekend with what appeared to be a hamstring issue, which was confirmed by Mackay after the final whistle.
George Harmon has just returned from a similar issue, and while County are still waiting to discover the full extent of Callachan’s problem the earliest realistic date for his comeback would be Saturday, December 17 – the club’s first match back after the winter break.
“We’ve had it scanned, and we’re waiting on the results,” former Watford, Cardiff and Wigan boss Mackay said.
“It’s a hamstring injury, so I would be amazed if we see him before St Johnstone after the World Cup.
“Depending on whether it’s grade one, two or three, you’re looking at four, eight or 12 weeks.
“George Harmon was back in seven, so it was an eight-week injury.”
Callachan is the only new injury concern coming out of the trip to Rugby Park, but he joins Connor Randall, Ben Purrington and Ben Paton on the sidelines ahead of Hearts on Sunday.
The handful of absentees is having some effect at County, with Mackay adding: “It’s quite disappointing – all of a sudden we’ve had five guys go out.
“Most of them have been impact or collision injuries. You can go back to Connor Randall, and Ben Purrington has done the exact same thing, so he has to go into a boot for a period of time and then he will naturally heal.
“George and Ross have done their hamstrings, and we’ve had a we issue with Ben Paton as well which will keep him out for a period of time.
“He just moved the wrong way in training, so all of a sudden we’ve gone from having a relatively healthy looking squad, five have gone down with longer-term injuries. That’s something we’ll have to deal with.”
