Butcher bemoans injury pile-up

Inverness manager Terry Butcher says he is facing the worst injury crisis of his career after losing winger Jonny Hayes for up to two months before today’s visit of Kilmarnock.

Hayes suffered a bad shoulder injury during the midweek cup defeat to Ayr United and with midfielder Greg Tansey also out with a knee injury Butcher says he will be two short of the standard 18-man squad against Kilmarnock. Billy McKay will be included among the substitutes after an ankle injury but he is unlikely to play after managing his first full training session today.

Butcher was already without Owain Tudur Jones, Josh Meekings, Kenny Gillet, David Proctor and Lee Cox through injury, while Tom Aldred has returned to Watford after a loan spell was cut short.

He said: “Hayes has popped his shoulder. He will be in a sling for two or three weeks and then you’re looking at strength work and rehab so you’re looking at six to eight weeks. We have 16 players available so we will just go with that. I have never been at a club with so many injuries.”

“We had a good talk with the players on Thursday after the long journey back up from the cup defeat – it was like a morgue on the bus.

“They are determined to get three points against a Kilmarnock side we shared the spoils with last season.”