Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is facing up to the prospect of going to Parkhead without the man who has arguably been the club’s player of the season.
Jonny Hayes has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Scottish Premiership match against St Mirren as well as next month’s crucial top-of-the-table encounter against Celtic.
The Dons can draw level on points with the Hoops with a victory against the Buddies before Ronny Deila’s men take on Hamilton on Sunday.
The sides will then meet a week on Sunday in Glasgow in a mouth-watering fixture, with the Dons knowing a win would blow the title race wide open.
McInnes says it is a major disappointment Hayes has been ruled out of such important matches.
He said: “He will miss the St Mirren and Celtic matches but we feared the worst when he pulled up as we thought it was a tear.
“We’ll just have to get on with it but I don’t think there’s been many, if any, who have been better than him this season. Jonny has been excellent whether he has played wide right, wide left, in the middle of the park or at left back this season.
“He is a really good competitor and has been a key player as his flexibility and pace has been really important for us.
“He missed the last Celtic game at Parkhead as his wife went into labour on the morning of the match. But we are concentrating on St Mirren first and the good thing is we have a really strong squad, so someone else will get their chance now.
“There’s not a direct replacement for Jonny but we have had some real quality on the bench so we have players who offer good options.”
However McInnes says defender Ash Taylor and midfielder Nicky Low are both nearing a first team return following injury.
He said: “Both Ash and Nicky Low will hopefully be back in full training on Monday with a view to playing in a reserve game next week.
“That would be a brilliant for both lads. Nicky has been out a for long time but he is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a lot of hard work.
“Russell Anderson is also pushing but he is still a bit behind those two boys.
“He seems to be responding well to the last bout of treatment. Hopefully he gets a break because he deserves it.”
Meanwhile, defender Scott McKenna has joined Ayr United on loan until the end of the season.
The under-20 captain will join fellow Aberdeen player Craig Murray who is also on loan at Somerset Park.