Duncan Ferguson still to work out Inverness Caley Thistle defence to face Airdrieonians amid spate of player unavailability
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Duncan Ferguson may be forced to field a somewhat experimental defence against Airdrieonians this weekend as Inverness Caledonian Thistle face a crisis of availability at the back.
All four players who started in front of Mark Ridgers in their last game against Partick Thistle are – at best – doubts.
Morgan Boyes had already been struggling last week with an eye infection, but none of Cameron Harper, Nikola Ujdur or David Carson have trained in recent days either.
That quartet did keep a clean sheet at the Caledonian Stadium at the start of the month, with postponements preventing them from building on it straight away.
While Ferguson says there is a chance some of the backline could play on Saturday, he does not expect all of them to make it.
“Morgan Boyes is still struggling with an eye infection,” he revealed.
“Cameron Harper never trained on Thursday as he had a tight calf. Niko (Ujdur) never trained either, he has a tight hamstring.
“David Carson has family issues, so he hasn’t trained for the last four or five days. The whole back four, as we speak, haven’t been training.
“They all played in our last match where we kept a clean sheet but we are hopeful one or two might be back tomorrow.
“We need to be creating chances and scoring goals anyway, because we need to win games. Draws are good, but wins are better.”
Even further ahead on the pitch, Caley Thistle are not left wanting for injury issues.
Aaron Doran had already been confirmed as a long-term absentee, but he will be joined on the treatment table by Austin Samuels for the foreseeable future.
Club captain Sean Welsh, too, is struggling despite featuring in the North of Scotland Cup semi final against Nairn County.
The former Hibernian, Partick Thistle and Falkirk man has only made two appearances this season – the 2-1 win against Bonnyrigg Rose and the 2-1 defeat to Dumbarton, both in the League Cup group stage back in July.
“We also have long-term ones, such as Aaron Doran’s hamstring, which is a bad one, and Austin Samuels has a knee injury which could keep him out a few months,” Ferguson confirmed.
“(Sean Welsh is) still injured. He has a bad back – he got a wee knock against Nairn, so he’s out.”
Good news comes from the fact that Cillian Sheridan is available to make debut.
