Ross County defender Liam Fontaine could miss the rest of the season after scans revealed he has ruptured his achilles.
Staggies vice-captain Fontaine left the field on a stretcher during Saturday’s 1-0 Championship loss at home to Dundee United. The Englishman was making his comeback from a hamstring injury he had suffered in a victory over Ayr United three weeks previously.
After visiting a specialist in London on Wednesday, former Hibernian player Fontaine has received confirmation he has suffered a rupture, with the 32-year-old now facing an absence of around six months.
Staggies co-manager Steven Ferguson admits Fontaine could struggle to feature again this term, and he said: “Unfortunately it is what we feared with Liam – a ruptured achilles. He was down in London on Wednesday seeing a specialist and he will be operated on at the beginning of next week.
“It is a big blow for us and a big blow for Liam. There was nobody near him. He was back-pedalling, went to spring off and just ruptured it.
“With this type of injury, the return is too far away to guess – it’s going to be a fair chunk of the season.
“You always try to be positive but he isn’t going to have a massive part to play on the pitch this season.”