Ross County manager Malky Mackay hopes to have defender Ben Purrington back in contention by the end of March.
Purrington has been sidelined since October, after suffering an ankle fracture in a 1-1 draw against Dundee United.
The Englishman had started all 16 games of the Staggies’ games prior to the injury, having made the summer switch from Charlton Athletic.
Fellow summer signing George Harmon has held down his place on the left side of defence during Purrington’s absence.
Although Purrington recently suffered a setback in his recovery, Mackay insists the 26-year-old is preparing for the final stretch of his rehabilitation.
Mackay said: “Ben is in a good place. He needed a second clean-out operation as there was still a little bit of floating debris in there causing issues in his running.
“He’s back out running now and I’d imagine in four weeks he will be ready to go.
“It will be good to get him back in – he’s a real good pro.
“It has been a really bad one for him, given how innocuous it looked and the vein of form he was in.
“He’s spent a lot of time up in the gym and it has been lonely afternoons with a lot of frustration.
“It is always hard for boys who have been out longer term with injury when they see how their team is playing and they want to get involved and help.
“That mental strength is needed to get back out on the park again. It is important there is a connection there and everyone stays in touch.”
Buddies boast formidable record in Paisley
County return to Premiership action for the first time in a fortnight, when they make the trip to St Mirren on Saturday.
The Buddies are enjoying a fine season and sit sixth in the table, however they are looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Motherwell on Wednesday.
It was a result which saw the Staggies slip back into the relegation play-off spot.
Mackay anticipates a difficult challenge against a side which has lost just two of its 13 home matches so far this term.
He added: “Steve is a good manager, who I’ve known for a long time.
“He has done well at St Mirren, clearly, if you look at their results and where they are in the league.
“I think they do exactly as he says – you can see it. There’s a pattern to how they play, a way they play, and they have been excellent at it.
“That’s what we’re going to have to compete with going down to St Mirren.
“It is going to be a tough game for us, without doubt. They have a great record at home so far this season.”
Brophy ineligible for County’s trip to Paisley
St Mirren triumphed 1-0 when the sides met in Paisley in August, with County recording a 3-2 victory in Dingwall in November.
Mackay will be without on-loan Buddies forward Eamonn Brophy, but Owura Edwards and Gwion Edwards are back in the frame.
The Staggies boss expects another tight encounter, adding: “They beat us down there at the start of the season on an incredibly hot day, but I thought it was quite nip and tuck.
“When we beat them up here a couple of months ago it was quite nip and tuck as well.
“Steve has a group of professionals who are working hard for him and that’s a great start. It will be two groups of good professionals working hard at the weekend and it will be another war of attrition.”
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