Hamilton star David Templeton is one of three players who are unlikely to play again this season for Brian Rice’s injury-ravaged side.
Rice currently has nine top-team starters on the sidelines, which also include Marios Ogkmpoe, Brian Easton, Shaun Want, Aaron Martin, Scott Martin, Nathan Thomas, Lewis Smith and Will Collar.
From that list, he doesn’t expect Templeton, Smith or Collar to re-appear this season.
Templeton was crocked in the defeat against St Johnstone back in October and hasn’t been seen since.
With Aaron Martin pulling out shortly before the game, Rice had an even more patchwork side in the 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock on Saturday, and says his entire back-three were out.
He said: “As we stand right now we have nine players injured, and that’s nine first-team players, not squad players, and seven of them are starters.
“Six or seven of them would have started at Kilmarnock, and if you take that out of any other team it has a major effect.
“I’ll not have the nine of them back this season.
“I’m hopeful that I get two or three back shortly, and the rest I don’t know when they’ll be back.
“I don’t think people appreciate how difficult it is having so many first-team players out injured.
“On Saturday we had our three main defenders out of the team in Brian Easton, Aaron Martin and Shaun Want, three experienced centre-halves.
“My most experienced player in the back three was Jamie Hamilton who is 18 years old.
“My boys have been absolutely fantastic, considering what we’re running with, it has been unbelievable.
“That’s difficult for any club, but especially a club like us, with our resources.”
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