Cody Cooke has been ruled out for at least two months after St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin was dealt another blow.
The striker was sent for scans in the wake of last week’s Betfred Cup clash against Albion Rovers.
The loss of the Englishman leaves the Buddies with just one fit striker to chose from ahead of Saturday’s Premiership opener away to Hibs.
Goodwin, who is expecting a busy week in the transfer market, admits it puts an extra incentive on getting a frontman through the door.
He told the Paisley Daily Express : “Cody’s done his knee after the Albion Rovers game.
“He is out for a couple of months at the very least, potentially even more if he needs surgery.
“We have had a little bit of bad luck over the last couple of weeks.
“Now with Cody being injured, we only have one recognised striker at the club.
“The focus and everything else now goes on that one signing. We need a number nine in, quickly, and hopefully we can get one in by the Hibs game.
“It’s unfortunate really. We didn’t anticipate it being anywhere near as bad as it was. He feels okay, there was a little niggle there but he didn’t think it was anything major.
“We sent him for a scan at the end of last week and the results came back on Sunday showing that it is a little bit more significant.
“We are just going to have to wait and see what the specialist says.”
Goodwin has been forced to contend with a raft of injuries since taking the reins at the club last month.
Jim Kellermann and Cammy MacPherson are both currently nursing shoulder injuries as they face a race to be fit for the weekend.
But Goodwin holds out hope for Stephen McGinn and Gary MacKenzie who both returned to training at Ralston yesterday morning.
Goodwin added: “We have been very unfortunate with injuries.
“But Stephen McGinn joined back in with the group yesterday. He had been out for a week with an ankle injury. Gary MacKenzie is also back in after missing last week with a rib injury.
“If I can get some of the ones back, along with two or three signings done by the end of the week then we should be in a lot healthier position than we are just now.”
