McInnes keen to have Jack back
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes expressed his relief after discovering Ryan Jack will be out for "weeks rather than months" with a knee injury.
McInnes was alarmed when the 22-year-old midfielder was carried off during the League Cup win over Livingston in midweek but his fears were allayed following a scan.
Looking ahead to the visit of Inverness on Saturday, the Dons boss told Aberdeen's official website: "Ryan has a slight tear of his medial ligament. He will be out for a number of weeks but it's weeks rather than months.
"The knee is responding well to treatment. He's got severe bone bruising and a slight tear but nothing that's going to keep him out too long.
"We all feared the worst as he's an important player and any team would miss Ryan Jack for a period of time.
"Thankfully he's only going out be for a few weeks."
After a 3-0 win over Ross County and 4-0 win over Livi, the Granite City men go into the third of four consecutive home matches on a high.
However, McInnes acknowledged Caley's impressive start to the season in which they have lost only one league game and sit behind leaders Dundee United on goals scored.
The former St Johnstone and Bristol City boss said: "Inverness have made a fantastic start to the season and they got a good win against St Johnstone last weekend.
"They are a good side with good experience in the team and they've got a real threat from several areas of the pitch.
"So we've got to make sure we're concentrating fully tomorrow and try and bring a strong performance to win.
"Regardless of what the opposition do we've got to find a way to win."
Aberdeen striker Cammy Smith, 19, has had to settle for appearances off the bench this season and is hoping to find a starting place in the absence of Jack.
Fellow forward Niall McGinn is a doubt with a knock while still missing are defender Clark Robertson (thigh) and skipper Russell Anderson (knee).
Inverness manager John Hughes saw up close the character in the Aberdeen side when he worked with Dons midfielder Willo Flood during the summer and looks forward to their meeting this weekend.
So he knows his Scottish Premiership high-fliers will need to be at their best to win at Pittodrie.
But, regardless of the result, the Caley Thistle manager just wants his players to make sure they show their top-six credentials.
Hughes said: "I had the privilege to work with Willo Flood in the summer down at Largs, he was doing his coaching badges and I was coaching.
"I saw the character and enthusiasm at which he goes about his business. If that's the kind of character that's in the dressing room at Aberdeen, they will be okay, that's for sure.
"They're a right good side and they're on form with seven goals in two games. Adam Rooney got a hat-trick the other night and he and David Goodwillie seem to have built up a right good partnership.
"But that's nothing we didn't know. If you're going to beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie you have to be at your best."
Caley Thistle slipped off the top of the table with defeat at Partick Thistle two weeks ago but they responded with victory over St Johnstone last week and are level on points with leaders Dundee United.
But Hughes expects Aberdeen to be challenging in the top echelons of the table and knows this game will be a major test.
"If we have aspirations to stay in the top six, we have to go to Aberdeen and let them know they have been in a game," he said.
"That's all I ask. I don't look at the outcome of a football match and I always say that to the players. Stay in the present, look after the process and the process - nine times out of 10 - will look after the result."
Source: PA
