Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack to miss Ross County clash
Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack will miss the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Ross County.
The midfielder is back running after knee surgery and hopes to get the all-clear from a specialist to return to full training next week.
Defender Scott McKenna remains out as well with an ankle injury but is also expected back in training next week.
Striker Adam Rooney is feeling no less pressure to score goals following the arrival of attacking reinforcements in the summer.
The former Stoke, Inverness, Birmingham and Oldham player has comfortably been the Dons' top scorer for the past two seasons, but boss Derek McInnes brought in strong cover during the summer in the shape of former Bournemouth forward Jayden Stockley.
Stockley and fellow new signings James Maddison and Wes Burns have provided added competition and options in the final third for McInnes.
Stockley, Rooney himself and Maddison have all come off the bench to score crucial goals during Aberdeen's four-match winning streak.
But Rooney is using the extra support to drive him on to score more.
The 28-year-old, who has hit the net seven times this season, said: "I have always just wanted to score goals. I always aim to be top scorer no matter what club I'm at. It's something I put on myself whether there's one or 10 strikers at the club.
"Obviously we have brought in a lot of attacking threats and it just gives us greater options for different games.
"I think in the last three games we have had people come off the bench to score winners. It's a long season and we are going to need plenty of options so it only improves the squad."
Aberdeen might need to try several options to break down County - the Dingwall side have only conceded three goals in four away games this season.
"They have had a couple of decent results away from home," Rooney said. "They drew with Rangers and Hearts away from home, so they obviously set up well and are difficult to break down. It's up to us to come up with ways of beating that."
Craig Curran looks likely to be pitched into battle for Ross County at Aberdeen on Saturday with injuries keeping
Ross County are without Alex Schalk and Liam Boyce through injury but Craig Curran is fit.
Boss Jim McIntyre told the North Star: "Liam has a medial ligament injury, but is feeling fairly strong, so we think it will be quicker than anticipated which, originally, was four to six weeks.
"It is similar to what we saw with Alex Schalk, where you're reluctant to give a timescale so soon after the injury.
"Alex is very close to coming back. He's back doing some running. He's yet to do any ball work, so the weekend match will come too soon for him."
Source: PAR
