Match preview - Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Ayr United
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle play their first home match of the Championship campaign as they welcome Ayr United to the Caledonian Stadium.
Caley Thistle kicked off their bid for promotion with a 3–1 defeat at Dunfermline Athletic.
Ayr United had a better start with a 2–1 win over Queen of the South.
Caley Thistle team news
Who's injured?
Who isn't?
Manager John Robertson says he is facing his worst ever injury crisis as Caley Thistle are without Lewis Toshney (hip flexor), Kevin McHattie (hip), David Carson (muscle), Miles Storey (torn hamstring), Nikolay Todorov (rib and lung bruising), Aaron Doran (knee) and Shane
Sutherland (hamstring strain).
Ayr United team news
Former Caley Thistle winger Tom Walsh misses out through injury while Luke McCowan is suspended.
Cammy Smith and Innes Cameron are added to the squad.
One to watch
Caley Thistle – Daniel MacKay
Likely to lead at the front due to Storey, Sutherland and Todorov all missing with injury. More accustomed to playing on the wing but manager John Robertson was happy with how he performed at East End Park when forced into the middle.
Ayr United - Joe Chalmers
Former Caley Thistle favourite returns to the Caledonian Stadium after moving to Somerset Park after things at Ross County didn't work out.
Provided an assist to Michael Miller who scored twice in the 2-1 win over Queen of the South last week.
Always was a danger on the wing and that won't be lost on his former boss and team-mates.
Manager comments
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson
“We knew there were going to be muscle injuries and we were very careful with the players. Their fitness coming back was excellent, but it hit us once they started playing games. We’ll deal with it – and it gives the younger lads an opportunity.
“Apart from a really bad flu and sickness virus we had at Hearts at one stage, it’s the worst I’ve seen – and certainly the worst in terms of muscle injuries.
"It’s unfortunate, but we’re not down about it
“Training this week has been razor sharp. The intensity and sharpness is exactly where we need it to be for Ayr United.”
Ayr United manager Mark Kerr - From Ayr United website
“We have watched the Dunfermline Inverness game from last weekend and Inverness were in control for most of the match but lost goals at crucial times.
"They are very good at stretching the game and we know from recent seasons that it is always a very hard place to go. We go there with confidence.
"We have had a good weeks training with a week between matches and also a couple of new faces into the squad.”
