Injury crisis returns to haunt Inverness

Under paid Hearts are the visitors this weekend in the SPL clash at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

Inverness are starting to ease themselves away from the foot of the table thanks to their recent revival and a change of fortune. We had an extra game in midweek which lasted for two hours before finally seeing Dunfermline out of the cup. Lady luck smiled on us in the shape of Dunfermline keeper Chris Smith who once more gifted a goal to an embarrassed Jonny Hayes, but there was little he could do about the next couple as Andrew Shinnie and Greg Tansey scored in extra-time to put Inverness into the fifth round and a lucrative tie against holders Celtic. Shinnie's goal was as good as it gets as he lashed a swerving shot behind a stunned Smith who never moved as the ball flashed behind him and in off the post. That makes it five games unbeaten for Inverness, a great confidence booster as the season wears on. Unfortunately there was a price to pay for the extra-time win in the cup as three players will miss SPL duty.

Hearts are on a bit of a roll themselves and are unbeaten in their last six games, scoring fifteen goals in the process. During that run they have beaten Hibs 3-1 at Easter Road and bettered that last week by slapping St Mirren 5-2 with ten men on the park, Zaliukas being sent off after only twelve minutes. Unfortunately for the Tynecastle men it's the off field antics that are making the headlines as the SPL will investigate late payments to the players. This has taken the shine off the Edinburgh clubs recent good form and they have slipped almost unnoticed into third place in the league, deposing Motherwell as the best of the rest.

Of the two meetings this season, Hearts came out on top in the game at Tynecastle, Skacel and Jonsson scoring for the Jambo's and a rare Ross Tokely goal for Inverness. The game in the Highlands finished all square as Stephen Elliot equalised for the visitors after Gregory Tade had scored his second goal of the season for Inverness. This was a game where Inverness were unfortunate to only get a point, Tade passing up a few golden opportunities to win the match before the late leveller.

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Inverness have new injury concerns after the midweek cup game after impressive Spaniard Roman Golobart was stretcherd off at Dunfermline. David Proctor returned to the side to replace the youngster and Kenny Gillet will be back after suspension. Steve Williams will also be eligible for this game so it's not all doom and gloom. However, Andrew Shinnie is reported to have a metatarsal injury and could be out for some time, having added to his original injury after playing in the midweek cup-tie. Ryan Esson was suffering from a strain in midweek and was rested, although Jonny Tuffey often deputises for cup games. It doesn't rain but it pours.

Injury Update:- The extent of the midweek injuries does not make good reading for Inverness fans as Golobart has possible torn ankle ligaments and will be out for three months. Andy Shinnie fares slightly better and has only broken a bone in his foot, the fifth metatarsal, and will miss the next couple of months. Lee Cox is less serious but a calf strain means he will miss the Hearts game.

Hearts will have to do without the services of Marius Zaliukas who was red carded last weekend. Kevin Kyle is still out and Ryan Stevenson has taken the huff and refuses to train. Andrew Driver is out with a leg injury and Danny Grainger has a groin problem. Ryan McGowan and David Templeton are poised to return to the squad after missing out against St Mirren.

tm4tj Prediction:- Recent form suggests that we could be in for a treat. However, unpredictable as we are, we could also be in for a dour struggle as we try to keep a clean sheet, but with Hearts enterprising youngsters that will be no easy feat. The midweek cup game has taken it's toll on the Caley Thistle squad, with three players losing out. Just as our season was starting to kick on we lose two of our top players. Golobart has been in great form recently picking up the player of the month award at CTO and Shinnie showed us that he does have that extra class with that unbelievable strike at Dunfermline. It's just no fair, therefore I will sit on the fence and go for a repeat of the first encounter, 1-1.

Other SPL News

Former Inverness winger Dougie Imrie has returned to the SPL with St Mirren for a fee believed to be around £35k

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Celik joins Rangers. No, it's not a mis-spelling, but Swedish Under-21 midfielder Mervan Celik has signed for the Gers on a three and a half year contract. Still at Rangers, they have withdrawn their original offer for Francisco Sandaza.