St Mirren striker Gareth Wardlaw is set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with ankle ligament damage.
Striker laid low by ankle injury
St Mirren striker Gareth Wardlaw is set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with ankle ligament damage.
The 31-year-old has only scored two goals since joining the Saints from Cowdenbeath over the summer, but was set to be drafted back in against Aberdeen on Saturday as Michael Higdon is struggling with a knock.
He will, however, be unavailable to coach Danny Lennon for the foreseeable future after being forced off during Saturday's goalless draw with Peterhead in the Scottish Cup.
Lennon said: "Gareth Wardlaw has gone over on his ankle. It looks like we're going to lose Gareth for four to six weeks.
"He is getting an X-ray just to make sure but it's quite a bad one.
Niggle
"He was just getting over a wee niggle in his groin and was suspended there too.
"If Michael hadn't made it for Saturday it was an opening for Gareth up there. But it is certainly someone else's opportunity now."
St Mirren, who have already snapped up Jim Goodwin during the winter window, are still looking to bolster their ranks over the coming weeks, but Lennon admits a deal to bring in Burnley's Steven Thompson is unlikely.
"That one looks like it's not going to happen in this window for us," he said.
"Whoever takes over at Burnley may well be a big Steven Thompson fan."
Lennon added: "Any manager doing their job properly will always have players on their radar but at this present minute we are not in a position to do any business.
"Until we can create some money we can't do anything but there are certainly players out there who interest me."
Discussions
Lennon had been hoping to free up space and funds within his squad by moving on Hugh Murray to Dunfermline, but the long-serving midfielder remains on the Buddies' books for now.
"We've had no other discussion on that, it's still in the hands of Hugh Murray and his agent," Lennon said.
"There are still negotiations going on but nothing concrete."
