Ross County midfielder Iain Vigurs faces an anxious wait to discover whether he has suffered a recurrence of the foot injury which sidelined him for much of last season.
Vigurs, who has started every Premiership match so far this season, was substituted after 36 minutes of Saturday’ 2-1 victory over St Mirren after picking up the knock.
That instantly triggered concern Vigurs had suffered a relapse of the injury, which kept him out for more than five months last season.
Although initial X-rays have shown no fracture or break co-manager Stuart Kettlewell says the full extent of last year’s injury was only uncovered by further scans, with Vigurs to be assessed further later today.
Kettlewell said: “He has had an X-ray, which isn’t showing any fracture or break just now, but this is the same scenario we were in with Iain last year and it transpired there was something more sinister.
“It is around about the same spot – that’s the big concern.
“He had the fracture in his foot in that area previously, but the X-ray missed it that first time and it was only with a later scan we picked it up.
“He is due to go in for a scan and we will know a little more then. We want to go through that full process so that we’re not getting him back out training and then he’s back out again after that.
“He’s a bit disappointed. We spoke to him on Monday and when we get the scan we’ll deal with whatever is there.
“He looked like he was right back to top form against St Mirren in the first half hour. It is very disappointing, but Iain just has to pick himself up and make sure he is prepared for the challenges ahead.”
While Vigurs potentially faces another absence, County were boosted by the return of Lewis Spence to action in Monday’s reserve fixture against St Mirren, which the Staggies won 4-0.
Spence has not featured since the final day of last season due to a dislocated shoulder, and Kettlewell says he is nearing a return to first team contention.
He added: “Lewis played 70 or 75 minutes of the reserve game and looked really good. His attitude has been first class to get himself back into training.
“With the young group, he was excellent and he is a welcome return for us because he gives us another option in that middle area of the pitch.
“I still think Lewis will need at least another game before we start to consider him for squad selection, but it is certainly a step in the right direction for him.”