New Ross County signing Jake Vokins faces 10 weeks out of action
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ROSS County lost promising Southampton loanee Jake Vokins to injury on the eve of the new Premiership season.
The blow, with a 10-week absence in store, has potentially landed manager Malky Mackay with even more work to do in the transfer market.
Mackay, though, praised Regan Charles-Cook for his performance in the left wing-back role vacated by Vokins, having only just arrived back from international duty with Grenada.
Charles-Cook managed to shackle last season’s double cup-winning goalscorer and standout performer for St Johnstone, Shaun Rooney, in Saturday’s scoreless draw.
Mackay said: “It’s been a really tough few weeks.
“Two weeks ago they were all sitting in the house because of Covid-19.
“We’d already had the huge turnover of 15 players leaving, and we only have five in so far. We only have 14 fit players, and three or four children on the bench.
“Two of the boys were in the Gold Cup three days ago in America, and Harry Paton was somewhere over the Atlantic 18 hours ago. For him to come, fly into London and fly up here this morning – and end up getting on the pitch – is testament to him.
“We also had contend with Jake, in the last minute of training, innocuously making a pass and suffering a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal.
“It will keep him out for 10 weeks.
“I’m just waiting on a big wave coming in from the Cromarty Firth and taking the stadium out.
“It’s about the only
thing that’s not happened so far.
“Jake had settled in well and he was absolutely gutted. He’ll be operated on down in Southampton on Monday.
“But Cooky came in and did well. He did it at Ibrox last year at wing-back and he came through a tough game playing against Shaun Rooney.”
Mackay was pleased with County’s performance in the circumstances and is looking to add significantly to his squad in coming days, adding: “I’m really proud to be manager of this team and I want to improve it.
“We should have players by the end of the week.”
