Aberdeen winger Jon Gallagher could make a remarkable return to first team duty on Saturday – just days after fearing he had broken his leg.
The 23-year-old, who is on loan at the Dons from MLS side Atlanta United, returned to training yesterday just 72 hours after being sent for an X-ray following a tackle in his club’s 1-1 draw with St Johnstone at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes said: “Jon had a really bad haematoma after the game and he was in a lot of pain. He left Pittodrie in a boot and we feared the worst when he went for his X-ray but thankfully it is not as bad.
“We anticipated it was going to be a lot worse but there is no fracture and he did some work in training today so it looks as if he will be OK for the weekend.”
McInnes does, however, face an anxious wait to discover how long he will be without Craig Bryson and Funso Ojo.
Bryson (ankle) has had a scan while Ojo suffered a suspected hamstring strain against Saints on Saturday.
The Aberdeen manager said: “We’re waiting for the scan results but we expect both to be out for Saturday.”
The timing could not be worse for McInnes, with the losses coming at the start of a pivotal run of three away matches for Aberdeen.
The Dons travel to Livingston on Saturday before they face Hearts at Tynecastle in the quarter-final of the Betfred Cup on Wednesday.
McInnes’s men round off their run with a trip to Ibrox to face Rangers next weekend and a lengthy absence for Bryson and Ojo will leave the Dons with two recognised fit central midfielders in Lewis Ferguson, 20, and 18-year-old Dean Campbell.
Stephen Gleeson, who missed pre-season training after suffering a knee injury, stepped up his return when he started light training last week but he is not expected to be available for first-team duty for at least another month.
The Dons concluded their business well before the transfer window closed two weeks ago but the importance of the upcoming matches, and the need to add some experience should Bryson and Ojo’s absence prove longer term, may lead to a loosening of the Pittodrie purse strings.
The Aberdeen manager would no doubt welcome the opportunity to bring in a short-term reinforcement if given the chance.
McInnes watched his young Dons beat Huddersfield reserves 3-0 at Glebe Park in Brechin yesterday thanks to goals from Bruce Anderson, Ethan Ross and Chris Antoniazzi.