Caley Thistle hope to feature defender Brad Mckay and attacker Mitch Curry in Sunday’s North of Scotland Cup final against Brora Rangers.
Inverness have been without Mckay since the opening day Championship loss to Dundee United on August 3 due to a back problem which he suffered just 22 minutes into the 4-1 defeat, but the former Hearts player has now returned to training.
On-loan Middlesbrough player Curry suffered an ankle ligament injury in a Betfred Cup defeat to Dundee in July, with the 20-year-old having returned to the English Championship outfit to undergo his recovery.
Inverness have fielded a number of first team fringe players in North of Scotland Cup victories over Lossiemouth, Forres Mechanics and Clachnacuddin so far this term, with the final against Brora taking place at Mosset Park on Sunday.
Caley Jags manager John Robertson hopes Mckay and Curry can gain
much-needed game time in the match.
He said: “Brad Mckay is back in full training, but he needs games. He won’t be considered until he has got a couple of 90 minute outings under his belt.
“I would imagine, all things being equal and if he continues to progress as he is, he and the likes of Mitch Curry could possibly play in the North of Scotland Cup game.”
Inverness are looking to return to winning ways in the Championship when they make the trip to Ayr United on Saturday, after seeing their six-match unbeaten run ended by Partick Thistle at Caledonian Stadium last weekend.
Robertson handed a first league start to attacking midfielder Roddy MacGregor, and the Caley Jags boss insists the teenager has done his first team prospects no harm after setting up Jordan White’s goal in the Highlanders’s 3-1 loss.
Robertson said: “Roddy started to tire but I thought he was terrific.
“His performance was the one bright spot of the day. His attitude, his intensity and work-rate was spot on. He gave it everything he had.
“He showed he is going to have a bright future. He will have to be managed and developed properly – he’s only 17 and people need to remember that.
“He will get time on the pitch, he will get starts and chances to make an impact.
“He’s very good at finding space. It was a very good cross for the goal. He needs to add goals to his game but there is no doubt that will come.
“The only reason he came off was that there was less space behind the midfield. There’s no point playing Roddy behind the striker if we are going to go route one.”