Rocco Quinn was yesterday hailed as the most under-estimated talent at Ross County after being told he faces up to six weeks on the sidelines.
The Staggies midfielder was lauded by manager Jim McIntyre after receiving confirmation of the severity of a hamstring injury he suffered in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Motherwell.
The bad news for Quinn, 29, was that he had suffered a tear that will almost certainly see him absent until the end of October.
Quinn’s consistent, hard-working performances are highly-valued by McIntyre and his backroom team but, the manager believes, less so by critical supporters.
McIntyre said: “We now know that Rocco has suffered a grade two tear, so he will be out for around six weeks. That’s really unfortunate. He has been in fantastic form for us, playing in a number of positions.
“Rocco is someone who I have a great deal of trust in – he never lets us down and I don’t think Rocco gets anywhere near the credit he deserves at times.
“He is very underestimated as a footballer but he’s not underestimated by me or his team-mates.
“Part of that is down to the unselfish side of his game. He does a lot of the grafting and hard work that maybe punters don’t see but his team-mates certainly do and so do the coaching staff.”
McIntyre, meanwhile, will decide over the next few days whether Ross County are to go Dutch for the first time since the transfer forays of predecessor Derek Adams.
Alex Schalk, the former NEC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles forward, has been brought in on trial at the Global Energy Stadium with a decision expected by the weekend.
County were always keen on signing a fourth attacker but worsening injury news yesterday only strengthened the case for recruitment.
The Staggies’ manager said: “Alex is joining us for a week’s trial. He has been recommended to us and he will have a look at us and we will look at him. He is only 23 – a young boy with his career ahead of him.”
McIntyre confirmed that, as well as Quinn’s setback, frontman Craig Curran will be out for up to six weeks following his head injury.
Curran suffered concussion in the 4-0 away win at Kilmarnbock last month, and though he returned to face Dundee United the following week his condition deteriorated.
Repeated dizzy spells prompted a hospital brain scan and medics found no lasting damage but he will not feature again this month.