Ross County duo Connor Randall and William Akio to spend months on sidelines as Staggies manager Malky Mackay reveals he has no plans to dip into transfer market for replacements
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Ross County manager Malky Mackay has confirmed that Connor Randall and William Akio will both be out injured for significant spells, but insists he will not panic buy to replace them.
Akio impressed on his Staggies debut against East Fife in the final game of the Premier Sports Cup group stages, but was taken off in the closing stages with a knee issue.
Randall, meanwhile, looked in immediate discomfort after making a challenge on Celtic's Jota last weekend, and was forced off.
Mackay has now revealed it was a knee cartilage problem for Akio, while Randall fractured a bone in his leg, with neither man likely to be back on the pitch any time soon.
However, with three weeks left in the summer transfer window and speculation on social media about potential targets, the County manager says he has no plans to dip back into the market unless the stars align as the clock ticks down.
"There's nothing in the works," he stressed.
"We've obviously lost Connor – he's fractured a bone in his leg unfortunately. We've lost William Akio for a sustained period of time as well, so we've got two extensive injuries.
"William's surgery has been done, and he came through that really well. It's just a matter of recovery now, and it was a relatively minor tidy up of part of his cartilage. It's just the normal rehab from that now.
"Connor has been absolutely terrific since I arrived. I know he has had injury problems and struggled for a run of games, but we managed to get him through pre-season last year and this year. He never missed a day, and he was one of the most consistent players we had last season.
"He's a really good pro, and is quietly quite a force at the club in the way he goes about his business. I'm disappointed for him, but there's a very specific way of that bone setting for him to come back as normal once we get near the back end of the year.
"We're talking months for both of them. With a broken bone, that's going to have to heal, and it's the same with a cartilage injury – we're not talking about an Alex Samuel-type of injury, so we'll see how it goes.
"That doesn't mean anything in terms of bringing anyone in, because last Saturday our club captain didn't make the bench.
"I'm delighted with the business we did early in the summer, and unless something really dramatic jumped out at us in the last week or so of the window, there's nothing that I'm targetting right now."
Cup match ticket arrangements
One of the other major talking points amongst Ross County's supporters this week has been the announcement that the entire north and east stands will be given to Celtic fans in the upcoming Premier Sports Cup tie.
It has received mixed reactions from Staggies fans, with some annoyed that they have to give up their usual spots in the ground, while others understand that is in an opportunity for the club to make the most money possible when ticket revenue is split 50/50 between the clubs in a cup competition.
Amid some of the frustration, though, Mackay has urged fans to continue to support the club while thanking those that visit the Global Energy Stadium every other week.
"My message is just to keep coming to support our team," he said.
"I give great credit to all our fans who keep coming and supporting the club in these times.
"We had a very difficult period during Covid, so to then get fans back made it a great atmosphere towards the end of last season. The last five home games we had last season the stadium was nearly full.
"They had a great connection to the team, really enjoying how we play, so I'm very grateful to the fans for that.
"In the times that we're in financially, anyone who pay to come and see the club I'm absolutely delighted about.
"I want to make sure that my team goes out there and puts on a show for them, because I really appreciate the fans we've got here."
