His midfield options are severely limited but Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists his side can find a way to win at Motherwell today.
The depleted Dons head for Fir Park to face a Well side which is third in the Premiership following a fine start to the season with 18 year-old Dean Campbell, below, the only fit and available central midfielder.
With Lewis Ferguson suspended and Craig Bryson, Stephen Gleeson and Funso Ojo injured Scotland under-19 international Campbell will play a key role for his club in Lanarkshire today.
Aberdeen having few midfield options has been the norm for weeks but McInnes remains upbeat. He said: “There is no doubt with Ferguson’s suspension, Bryson, Wright and Ojo’s injuries, we don’t have cover there so Dean’s availability is important.
“I assumed Bryson and Gleeson wouldn’t be available and hoped Dean would come through Scotland duty so we have been working on one or two things with those assumptions in mind.
“I’m conscious of Dean and Ethan Ross facing the big jump of playing regularly in the team. Dean has had game time recently and ideally I would like to dip him in and out.
“It’s a learning curve for both lads. I’ve watched them with the under-19s and they compete brilliantly within their age-group.”
Bryson returned to training on Thursday following an ankle injury but McInnes is reluctant to pitch one of his key summer signings back into the action until he is 100%.
He said: “Bryson is not going to be 100% fit. When you know he is not going to be 100% fit, you have to be fair to the boy and you have to be fair to the team as well.
“He was brought in the summer to be an important player. We have spoken often enough about losing the likes of a Shinnie type, those leadership qualities, that drive, energy and quality from midfield, he was the one and we have not had it really.
“We have had him at bits and pieces, but we have never really had him at 100%. He has had a tough time Craig, and has not been the influence that he wants to be and we need him to be. It is not going to be that 100% influence that he can give us at this moment of time.”